In collaboration with Gourmet Dining, Drew NightLife and the Asian Student Union hosted a celebration of the Lunar New Year on Friday, Jan. 31, with trivia, activities and cultural foods. Tables lining the lobby of the Commons welcomed students as more gathered inside to feast and test their knowledge of Asian culture.
Once checked into the event, students were given Panda Express goodies, including a booklet of activities, a sticker sheet and some coupons. Several activities invited students to test their artistic skills, the first being an opportunity to practice the art of Chinese calligraphy. Afterward, they could take a photo with friends and props or try several crafts including making festive lanterns or origami hearts, cranes and snakes.
Before dining inside, students could visit the snack-tasting table crowded with several goodies from different East Asian countries. Most popular were Korean Jeollanam-do honey rice cakes, salted egg yolk pastries with green bean mochi filling and sesame peanut brittle.
At the end of the line of tables was Heart of Dinner note writing. The table was filled with stickers, markers, crayons and other craft supplies. Here, students created heartfelt notes, writing messages in traditional Chinese, Tagalog, Korean or Japanese, and decorating them to be included in care packages for Asian elders in New York City.
The Commons served up several cultural dishes for the celebration, including three-cup chicken, edamame, dumplings and spring rolls – to many, a noticeable upgrade in deliciousness from the usual menu. Dessert consisted of not only fortune cookies, but yummy mango sago and themed cupcakes as well.
While eating, students gathered around the projector screen to play several Kahoot trivia games about different aspects of Asian culture, including questions about Lunar New Year traditions and history. Winners of the trivia games were given festive red gift bags filled with prizes like Ramune soda, Pocky and a stuffed plush.
With students crowding The Commons in festivity, the combined efforts of student organizations and Gourmet Dining elevated the night into a true celebration of Asian culture and the Lunar New Year.
Evelyn Labbe is a First-Year exploring academically.
