On Friday February 9, the Ravenhill Chapel was bursting with energy, excitement, and beautiful red and gold decorations in celebration of Lunar New Year, the zodiac year of the dragon on Saturday February 10. ASA and CAB joined forces to host a Lunar New Year formal featuring a dance floor, delicious food catered by local restaurants based in Philadelphia’s Chinatown, a dance performance by Jefferson’s Urja Dance Team and a slam poetry performance by Asian American Studies and Immigrant America professor Dr. Michelle Myers.
Sources by Faith Eckley
From left to right, the Asian Students Association Executive Board and Campus Activities Board take a group picture at the Lunar New Year formal.
When asked about the importance of ASA hosting the formal, Dr. Myers stated, “It is important to have these events so students of Asian descent can feel as though they can celebrate cultural identity…It's about building community and finding space, especially when historically they have not been able to celebrate tradition. It is important to be able to celebrate, especially a holiday that is typically celebrated with family."
Students in Philadelphia have also expressed their appreciation for Chinatown and its rich history, emphasized by this holiday. Even though the 76ers arena has been a point of contention, Lunar New Year celebrations still took place in the streets of Chinatown with lively lion dances and firecrackers. See more on how Jefferson students are fighting to preserve Chinatown in the article, "Love Chinatown. Save Chinatown."
Sources by Faith Eckley
From left to right, juniors Alyssa Tsing and Tina Zheng wear traditional Chinese clothing called hanfu; first year Brian Chan, first year Gelo Batario, sophomore Aaron Batario, and first year Matthew Quizom have a great time at the formal.
Sophomore Adrianne Boladas, ASA executive board member and president of the Filipino Student Association, said, “Planning the Lunar New Year Formal was an exciting yet stressful experience. The planning process started months before the event date was even solidified. Everything from the menu to the little decorative coins on the tables had to be carefully selected. Although the planning process was stressful, I learned a lot about LNY. I am Filipina and traditionally Filipinos do not celebrate LNY. It was really fulfilling learning about and sharing another culture's celebration…This event was particularly important to me because I wanted it to be a space where students who could not travel home to celebrate with their families could have a place to celebrate…Overall, I think the event went well and that people enjoyed celebrating LNY as one big family."
The formal was a great opportunity to celebrate Lunar New Year with the Jefferson community and showed the dedication of ASA and CAB to host great events for the student body.
Senior Emily Keen, sophomore Paris Schell, sophomore Nina Arcilla, and senior Sam Mejia pose in the Ravenhill Chapel; first years Amanda Tsai, Kpaw Moo, and Katherine Chen smile for a picture.
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