The event was self-paced, allowing attendees to travel from stall to stall as they pleased. Right by the entrance was catered food by Binghamton University’s own Mein Bowl. The menu featured orange chicken, teriyaki chicken, white rice, fried rice, fruit tea, Yeo’s water chestnut drink and snow skin mooncakes, lovingly handmade by the Chinascope E-Board.

“I am delighted to be welcoming our society’s first major Mid-Autumn Festival event before my graduation,” Zetong Lu, an advisor for Chinascope and a senior majoring in mathematics, wrote in an email. “In China, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an immensely significant occasion, second only to the Spring Festival in importance. While it is a time when families traditionally gather, being unable to reunite with one’s own family yet able to come together with new friends on campus is equally cause for celebration.”

Stations featuring various games and activities were scattered around the Mandela Room. The first stop was the “Mooncake Toss,” where two participants competed to see who could land the most mooncakes through the target. Attendees also played the “Giant Jump Rope” challenge, a test of stamina to see how long they can jump for.

For those who preferred a mental challenge, the “Riddles and Trivia” stations offered a chance to test decoding skills and festival knowledge. After exercising their mind, attendees could test their aim in the “Arrow Toss” game before heading to the “Chopstick Challenge,” where players raced to move the most marbles from one plate to another using only a pair of wooden chopsticks.

Jocelyn Fang, a member of Chinascope and a sophomore majoring in biochemistry, discussed some of the challenges that came with organizing the event.

“This is our first time doing Moon Festival,” Fang said. “It’s our first big event in the fall semester, so it’s something new that we’re trying, so that was a little hard.”

During the games, participants earned tickets that can be redeemed at two special stations — the Polaroid decor and prize tables. At the Polaroid station, guests could use one ticket to take and decorate a photo with their friends in front of a hand-painted banner created by Chinascope’s art director, Rachel Tan, a sophomore majoring in art and design.

Those who saved up their tickets could exchange them for prizes depending on the amount, encouraging increased participation in games. The prizes included a matcha set, a $15 gift certificate to Uma Omakase, Lulu the Piggy blind boxes, Lilo & Stitch and Sanrio keychain blind boxes, along with an assortment of candy and Asian snacks. The event concluded at 8 p.m. after hours of fun games, friendly competition and delicious food.

Emily Su, one of Chinascope’s representatives and a sophomore majoring in business administration, shared her thoughts on the event turnout.

“I really think the banquet is doing really well, the turnout is awesome,” Su said. “I love seeing everyone be so engaged with all the activities.”

The event was a resounding success, as students had the chance to participate in fun challenges and celebrate Chinese culture.

Lu expressed his hopes for the future of Mid-Autumn festivals hosted at the University.

“I sincerely hope that more Mid-Autumn Festival activities will continue after I leave the University,” Lu wrote. “If I may express a wish, given that the term ‘Mid-Autumn’ in China is synonymous with reunion, it would be truly exciting if the university could organize a Mid-Autumn Festival evening gathering where all societies could come together.”

The event began with a game that the BUJA E-Board dubbed “Big Ball Relay,” a mix of volleyball and baseball where teammates passed an inflatable ball to each other while running to the finish line. Afterward, players took to the field for an intense game of tug-of-war, where the E-Board and attendees worked together to compete.

Winners of each game received prizes ranging from Pokémon cards, a digital camera and a full matcha set.

“As BUJA, we decided to take part in Undokai because it’s an interactive way to share real Japanese culture,” Michi Shito, cultural chair for BUJA and a sophomore majoring in business administration, wrote. “Instead of food or DIY events, this event lets people actually participate in Japanese tradition and experience the same joy that Japanese students feel during the school year.”

BUJA works as a very active organization on campus, bridging a multitude of cultures for all students. Rintaro Onishi, president of BUJA and a junior majoring in biochemistry, said that the Undokai event was just one of several the organization hosts to spread Japanese culture.

The games continued with a relay race that depended on active communication. Students were grouped with new people and connected with each other through the fast-paced game. Winners were awarded a set of stationery from MUJI.

No matter the winner, all attendees celebrated one another with great sportsmanship.

“It is important to have interactive events such as Undokai, as it provides a fun opportunity to educate students about various cultures,” wrote Leo Sharp, cultural chair of BUJA and a junior majoring in business administration. “Especially with Undokai, students can participate, interact, and celebrate together, fostering a sense of community.”

Next was a ball-throwing game called “Tamaire” that required large groups to toss balls into a basket as one teammate walked around the field. Though it seemed like an individual task, the teams had to quickly adapt and learn when someone was throwing a ball and tried to help each other aim properly.

Due to BUJA’s commitment to campus engagement, the organization prides itself on staying busy throughout the semester.

“This semester, students can look forward to DIY Daruma crafting, as well as collaborations with other organizations, like dumpling making and calligraphy workshops,” Shito wrote. “The highlight of the semester will be Winter Matsuri on November 16th, which is BUJA’s biggest annual event, so we’re excited for everyone to join!”

The event concluded with a game of “Shogaibutsu-kyōsō,” an elaborate obstacle course race where contestants completed multiple high-intensity games, ending with retrieving candy clipped to a piece of string using only their mouths. Attendees bonded with and applauded one another, creating a welcoming field day for everyone to enjoy.

“I hope that the participants will leave with fun memories, competing against each other while learning about the traditional Japanese games,” Sharp wrote. “My wish is that everybody walks away feeling that they were part of something meaningful and joyful, fostering the sense of community I mentioned earlier.”

The event is hosted by the Q Center and Binghamton University Libraries, in conjunction with the women, gender and sexuality studies program and the theatre department. Attendees will view a reading by a drag queen and faculty lightning talks, followed by an interactive Q&A. Food and refreshments will be served.

The reading will be hosted by Samantha Vega, a Rochester-based drag queen. Last year, she read a chapter from “Ambientes: New Queer Latino Writing,” edited by Lázaro Lima and Felice Picano. Jillian Sandy, a subject librarian for the women, gender and sexuality studies department, said Vega will likely select another chapter that addresses how Latin and LGBTQ+ identities intersect.

“I had a blast last year when we hosted Sparkle & Scholars for the first time, and Samantha Vega was truly a highlight,” Sandy wrote in an email. “I’m looking forward to her presence again and excited to see what she chooses for her reading. And her outfit, of course!”

“I’m also really intrigued by the faculty lightning talks and the topics they will choose,” she continued. “I have a rough idea of the focus of their talks, but I don’t know the specifics. I expect I will learn something new!”

The faculty lightning talks will be about ten minutes each. Two faculty presentations have been confirmed so far: Bridget Whearty, an associate professor of English and the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, and Sean Massey, an associate professor of women, gender and sexuality studies.

Sandy explained how the organizers approached selecting faculty speakers for this year’s Sparkle and Scholars event.

“We reached out to professors who we know are interested in topics related to LGBTQ+ history and/or activism,” Sandy wrote. “These are faculty members I have worked with before or know through other campus connections who are both extremely knowledgeable and excited to share their expertise in engaging ways.”

Next, there will be a 30-minute Q&A, where audience members can ask questions to the faculty and drag performer panel. Attendees are encouraged to bring thoughtful questions to share with the panel.

Along with audience questions, the panel will hear pre-selected questions from the moderator, touching on topics like the LGBTQ+ community’s underrepresentation throughout history, book bans and the relationship between queer scholarship and activism.

Sparkle and Scholars is an event that will continue to encourage dialogue about the LGBTQ+ community and inform students and community members on intersectional issues. Overall, it is an informative event that many different sectors of the campus have come together to produce.

Rather than focusing on a more generalized concept of Filipino culture, PAL strived to emphasize the “debut” aspect of the banquet, which celebrates the milestone of a Filipina woman turning 18, typically in the company of family and friends, dancing and gifts. The banquet was inspired by the annual Sunflower Festival in Ligao City, the Philippines, where dancers take to the streets in performances and costumes reflective of the abundant golden sunflower fields growing nearby.

To encapsulate this radiance, vases of faux sunflowers sat at the center of each table and a vine garland draped across the tablecloth as the flames of LED candles twinkled beneath the darkness of the space.

Johann Belizario, PAL’s educational chair and a junior majoring in industrial and systems engineering, helped kick off the festivities by describing the significance behind this year’s banquet.

“A Filipino debut is a huge celebration of a young woman’s coming of age on her 18th birthday,” said Belizario. “It is one of the most significant social celebrations in a Filipina’s life. It symbolizes her transition from childhood to young adulthood. Mirasol is a Tagalog translation for sunflower. The Ligao Sunflower Festival is a festival that focuses on the natural beauty of a particular town in Pangasinan, and the blooming of sunflowers.”

After an introduction video set to Daniel Padilla and Moira Dela Torre’s “Mabagal,” E-Board members and freshman representatives performed a traditional Tinikling folk dance, agilely weaving in and out of bamboo poles, rapping against the ground to rondalla music and trending hits like SZA’s “BMF.”

The event was hosted by Monica Gnajewski and Giankyle Vallarta, PAL’s social chairs and sophomores majoring in computer science. While there were some challenges during the planning process of the banquet — namely the University’s new policy that prevented PAL and other Asian Student Union organizations from catering from off-campus Asian establishments — Jhon Milo Nunez, PAL’s president and a senior majoring in computer science, reflected upon the dedication and collaboration behind the scenes that brought this event into fruition.

“[Gnajewski and Vallarta] have done an amazing job of bringing this theme to life,” Nunez wrote in the event pamphlet. “As for the rest of this year’s E-Board, I couldn’t be anymore proud of the hard work that everyone has put in to make this banquet one to remember. Whether it be deco, dance, or simply being there for one another in times of stress, it truly warms my heart to see everyone contribute to the success of this event.”

The night’s itinerary featured a combination of live performances presented by talented student groups and interactive games calling for audience participation. One of the organizations highlighted was the Binghamton Taekwondo Club, which showcased synchronized form motions known as poomsae and pre-choreographed fight sequences, followed by an intense series of board-breaking demonstrations and aerial stunts to soaring, suspenseful music.

Members of Undivided, an R&B group dedicated to uplifting multicultural voices through musical expression, also performed later that night, singing a rendition of Kehlani’s “Folded.”

While the event was challenging to plan, Gnajewski said that hosting the banquet was incredibly rewarding.

“Seeing the vision that my co-chair and I had finally come to life was such a surreal experience, and getting to present our hard work to almost 300 people was indescribably gratifying,” Gnajewski wrote. “Being in PAL has not only given me the opportunity to execute and host this banquet, but also connected me to a large community of wonderful people and allowed me to spread our shared Filipino culture to the rest of campus.”

Three games followed each performance, inviting enthusiastic attendees to compete on the stage. Prizes on the line included a “performative male” basket featuring stereotypical essentials like wired earbuds, a tote bag, matcha powder, a set filled with sunflower-themed trinkets and a brand-new Stüssy hoodie.

The first game was based on the custom where 18 men close to the debutante bestow her with 18 single roses as a symbol of their affection and admiration. Participants raced around the Mandela Room in search of items like the shortest person, the largest shoe size and the most followers on Instagram. The second game was the newspaper dance, a classic party game in the Philippines, where pairs of two were tasked with dancing and freezing on a sheet of newspaper as it was progressively folded smaller and smaller after each round.

The final game, “ligaw,” was inspired by family-centric elements of traditional Filipino courting culture like the “harana,” or a romantic serenade, and “paninilbihan,” or acts of service. Contestants competed to win over the hand and heart of Gnajewski‘s “titas” and “titos,” roles assumed by PAL’s senior advisors. One of the highlights of the night, the crowd erupted into applause and laughter at each interpretation of the different rounds as the suitors were prompted to try “serving” and rizzing up the judges on the spot.

After a dynamic hip-hop number soundtracked to songs like Kendrick Lamar’s “tv off” from Liga Modern, a dance troupe from the University of Albany’s Liga Filipina, the evening closed off with line dancing. All attendees were invited to shuffle along on the dance floor to Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September.”

Nunez explained how he hoped the banquet’s atmosphere brought together attendees from the Binghamton community and beyond as part of a shared familial unit.

“I hope that the attendees were able to immerse themselves into a mock debut, as one of our emcees, Monica, played the role of a girl who just turned 18 and sought to accomplish everything that typically happens at a debut,” Nunez wrote. “From line dancing to traditional games played [at] Filipino family gatherings, I hope that anyone in attendance was able to feel as though they were part of the PAL family, or in Tagalog, Kapamilya.”

Edwin Enriquez Gutierrez, the president of Candela and a junior double-majoring in biology and women, gender and sexuality studies, explained the significance of the theme.

“Our theme ‘Dia De Los Niños’ is Day of the Kid, translated into English, and it’s a celebration seen in Latin America where people celebrate kids and their youth and growth, and our theme aims to provide a space where people can see some and feel nostalgia of what it means to grow up as someone a part of Latin Culture,” wrote Enriquez Gutierrez in an email. “Candela is an organization that always aims to provide a safe and fun space to dance to anyone, and that will definitely be seen at our banquet this week, as it will tie into our theme of growing up in Latin Culture and part of that is growing up with Latin Music, food, and much more!”

As guests filtered in, blue lighting set the scene, and reggaeton tracks reminiscent of the early 2000s played. Papel picado, or perforated paper, decorated the walls, along with blue streamers and flower bunches. Tables were set with programs, a flower bouquet centerpiece, menus and coloring pages.

The banquet kicked off with the introduction of hosts, Skyla Rivera ‘24, the former president and founder of Candela, and Joskarly Fermin Rodriguez ‘24. They discussed the club’s goal to share Latin culture through dance and steps founding E-Board members took to create the organization.

After introductions from the current E-Board, Tropical Ecstasy, an on-campus Caribbean dance team, performed a choreographed set featuring genres like afrobeats and dembow. The audience applauded as the group danced to popular songs on social media like “Yo Bunny” by Prodbycpkshawn and Ugly Andz.

Two activities followed, musical chairs for a chance to win a Chipotle gift card and pin the tail on the donkey, encapsulating the theme of childhood nostalgia.

Andy Castellanos, the public relations chair and a junior majoring in economics, discussed how the organization speaks to the culture of Binghamton University’s diverse student body.

“What Candela is really about is creating a space where culture and community can come together,” Castellanos wrote in an email. “Although Latin dance is at the core of what we do, it is also a way to celebrate one’s identity and share it with others. Having students from different backgrounds join us is one of my favorite parts of this organization as that’s what makes Candela feel so welcoming and true to Binghamton’s diversity.”

During intermission, guests chose their selection of dinner options, all made by E-Board members. Guests could partake in cheese empanadas, mac and cheese or spaghetti, white rice or moro and chicken or pork.

Enriquez Gutierrez also set time aside to discuss current immigration policies, which have allowed for degrading, humiliating and often violent encounters between immigrants and ICE agents. He highlighted several resources and encouraged guests to educate themselves and spread awareness.

“I implore you guys all to donate, help however you can,” Enriquez Gutierrez said. “Please look past your privileges and acknowledge what’s going on in the world, and please educate those who need education.”

The audience practiced dancing to several bachata songs before moving into “La Hora Loca,” or the crazy hour, where all different genres of Latin music played to encourage guests to try out different dance styles with one another.

“Our Día de Los Niños Banquet is our chance to really bring everything we stand for into one night which includes culture, joy, and community,” Castellanos wrote. “Día de Los Niños is about celebrating childhood and we want the event to capture that same sense of fun and togetherness. With music, performances, and activities, we hope the Banquet feels like more than just a showcase, but a celebration that invites everyone to be part of our family.”

Chosen in part for its connection to the newly released “Wicked” movie and the nostalgia of “The Wizard of Oz,” the theme set the stage for the event. A yellow brick road lined the entrance, leading to a packed room filled with colorful decorations and a photo booth designed to mimic the magical world of Oz.

“Miss Asia is an important tradition as people have come to associate Miss Asia with the same high quality each year, yet the challenge is constantly improving on the baseline and making it even better each year,” Calvin Chang, a gala chair for VSA and a sophomore majoring in business administration, wrote in an email.

Upon entering, attendees received goodie bags filled with ramen and snacks from sponsors LMNT, Vifon and Yami. Each guest also received raffle tickets for a chance to win prizes including matcha, a tablet and a television. Dinner was catered by Mein Bowl, featuring fried rice, white rice, orange chicken and teriyaki chicken, with drinks provided by Moshi and other sponsors.

The pageant opened with a flag walk. Contestants Joy Lin, Miss China and a junior majoring in biology; Amy Jung, Miss Korea and a junior majoring in biology; Simran Singh, a junior majoring in biology; representing Miss Punjab; and Catherine Guevarra, Miss Philippines and a junior majoring in global public health, took the stage holding their countries’ flags, signaling the beginning of the cultural showcase.

Serena Le, a gala chair for VSA and a sophomore majoring in nursing, explained what organizers look for when selecting contestants.

“Most of all, I feel like we look for commitment, of course, because it is a hard process,” said Le. “Just preparing so many performances in a short amount of time and being there consistently to practice with VSA and with the board. But also their cultural pride — I really love learning about their different cultures, and I feel like a lot of the contestants like learning new cultures.”

The cultural portion gave contestants the chance to showcase traditional dances from their respective heritages. Miss China performed a graceful traditional Chinese dance, while Miss Korea began her performance with a large drum before transitioning into a fan dance. Miss Punjab performed a traditional dance with two background dancers as rainbow lights filled the room and the audience clapped along. Miss Philippines also performed with background dancers, highlighting her country’s dance traditions through an energetic routine.

Attendees played mini games, including “Tornado Twister Trials” and a guessing game to find a “magic charm,” between rounds to keep the audience engaged.

The talent segment allowed contestants to express their creativity and individuality. Miss China performed a cheerleader-inspired dance in her country’s colors, joined by a background dancer who recreated the viral KATSEYE routine to Kelis’ “Milkshake.” Miss Korea showcased three dance styles, including a hip-hop number to Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.” Miss Punjab performed a Caribbean-style dance with two background dancers, while Miss Philippines sang “Beaches” by beabadoobee as the audience illuminated the room with their phone flashlights.

For the costume round, contestants embraced “The Wizard of Oz” theme. Miss China appeared as Dorothy, walking out to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and tossing candies to the audience. Miss Korea dressed as the Cowardly Lion and danced to “Confident” by Justin Bieber. Miss Punjab dressed as a flying monkey, while Miss Philippines embodied Glinda the Good Witch, lip-syncing to “Popular” from Wicked. Audience members voted for Crowd Favorite, Best Costume and Social Media Favorite throughout the event.

In the final walk, contestants wore formal dresses and sashes featuring the names of their represented countries before taking part in the “Ruby Slipper Reflection,” where they shared what Miss Asia meant to them.

Lin, who represented Miss China, described how the pageant allowed her to grow beyond her comfort zone.

“Some of you know me — I was one of the quietest of my high school graduating class, and for me, getting up here today, it’s a very big challenge for me,” Lin said. “I think I’m really glad to have Miss Asia as a platform for me to showcase myself and to meet so many wonderful friends I’ve made along the way.”

Jung, representing Miss Korea, reflected on the deeper meaning behind her performance.

“I personally wanted to do Miss Asia because I know that Korean culture is known today as K-Pop or publicly known snacks,” Jung said. “But obviously, our culture has a deeper root than that and a lot more history, so I showed my Korean traditional dance today. And I also wanted to come out of my comfort zone, and thankfully, I was able to be given the gift of being able to dance and use my body in that way.”

Guevarra, who represented the Philippines, discussed colorism within many Asian cultures. Growing up, she was taught to straighten her natural hair to better adhere to these beauty standards. In her presentation, she wanted to draw attention to “all the unique parts of ourselves.”

The event concluded with the announcement of audience-voted superlatives. Best Costume went to Miss Punjab, while Social Media Favorite and Crowd Favorite were both awarded to Miss Philippines. Finally, Lin was crowned Miss Asia 2025, marking the end of an evening that celebrated culture, creativity and confidence.

Lin took a moment to express her gratitude toward those who supported her journey.

“I’d like to thank my friends who never stopped believing in me and encouraged me to go the whole way,” Lin said. “There were nights where I felt like I wasn’t able to pull through and wanted to give up.”

“But I want to say for anyone who is scared to step outside the box or be on stage next year or in the spring, don’t hesitate, just do it,” she continued.

Established in 2002, BAMS aims to provide a space for students of mixed racial and cultural backgrounds to connect with their identities. Nadira Asghar, vice president of BAMS and a sophomore majoring in integrative neuroscience, elaborated on the importance of creating this space.

“We want to allow those of mixed heritage an opportunity to engage in discussions surrounding their experiences, as well as cultivate a community they can relate to and find comfort in,” Asghar wrote in an email. “Whether it’s through fun crafting general body meetings, or more in depth conversations, we want to be that safe space.”

The banquet, titled “Mix It Up,” was themed after Y2K. Attendees arrived dressed to impress in bold colors, low-rise jeans, crop tops and various other pieces characteristic of the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Upon entering the space, guests were immediately greeted with Y2K hit songs from artists like Destiny’s Child, Britney Spears and Beyoncé. Each table was adorned with painted CDs, confetti, plastic stars and Y2K-themed stickers.

“When thinking of a theme for our banquet, BAMS was considering staples of what made up mixed identities,” Alyssa Williams, secretary of BAMS and a sophomore majoring in biology, wrote in an email. “We had so many ideas yet when we thought of Y2K, it was instantly decided. It’s such a fun theme that will make guests really excited to be there. Also, diverse cultures played a pivotal role in the Y2K impact.”

“Mixed identities reflected in Y2K moments and fashion has always been prevalent,” she continued. “To pay thanks to Y2K’s importance and recent revival, it made sense to have a Y2K-themed banquet for our own revival of this event.”

After introductions and acknowledgements by BAMS alumni and the organization’s current president, Emely Perez Alvarado, a senior double-majoring in Latin American and Caribbean studies and art and design, the Binghamton Ballroom Dance Association performed four distinct dances for the audience.

Ammon Kellmurray, captain of the ballroom dance team and a junior double-majoring in philosophy, politics and law and history, introduced each type of dance before the performance. The ballroom dances included Mambo, originating in Cuba in the 1930s; Paso Doble, with origins in either Spain or France; East Coast Swing, which comes from a variety of sources throughout the United States; and the Viennese Waltz, which traces back to 13th-century Germany and Austria. Each performance emphasized the rich history of dance and its integral role in cultures across the globe.

“Many organizations, students, and families are attending, which we can’t thank them enough for,” Williams wrote. “It means so much to us, especially since a banquet is very new for BAMS. We haven’t had one since 2011 and to see how many people support us has been very appreciated.”

The Mix It Up banquet encouraged attendee participation with games like “Mummy Wrap,” where contestants tried to wrap their partner up in toilet paper in under a minute, and musical chairs. Each game gave participants a chance to win a $25 Dunkin’ or Starbucks gift card.

After the first game, dinner was served buffet-style, featuring food like Korean BBQ chicken, chana masala and beef and broccoli. Once everyone was seated with their food, Undivided, Binghamton’s first and only multicultural singing group, performed a cover of “Soon as I Get Home” by Faith Evans.

The R&B group’s performance was followed by a fashion show that highlighted cultural attire like Desi wear and attendees’ Y2K-inspired clothing. The emcees emphasized that the show was all about mixing identities and different forms of expression. After the original participants walked down the aisle, guests were invited to showcase their own outfits of the night.

“The banquet showcases the mixed identity and so many aspects of the multicultural community,” Williams wrote. “We are an organization of a variety of voices and stories, and [the] banquet will express just how strong everyone is when together.”

The X-Fact’r Step Team was the final organization to perform at the banquet, closing the evening’s dance showcases with an energetic and powerful presentation. Before the performance, a brief history was shared, highlighting the cultural significance of step within Black communities.

After enslaved people were banned from owning drums, they adapted by using percussive body movements as a means of communication and expression. This tradition evolved into the art form known today as step, which is prevalent in many African American fraternities and sororities.

The banquet’s art gallery, situated near the entrance of Old Union Hall, featured both visual art and poetry by students of diverse backgrounds. During the final portion of the event, five spoken word artists who were part of the gallery read their poetry for attendees, touching on themes like being mixed, tension with religion, legacy and labels.

Kayla Lockhart, a sophomore majoring in philosophy and a member of BAMS, discussed the poetry they read to the audience.

“I think a lot of times poetry can sound more powerful if it’s said through your own mouth,” Lockhart said. “And especially since this is through my own voice, I wanted to use my voice to share my own story and my experience being a biracial person, being raised by a white mother and being devoid of a lot of culture growing up, and that’s the majority of what my poetry was about.”

The art and culture segment of the event concluded with the announcement of the art gallery winners. Alejandra Fernandez, a junior majoring in psychology, took first place with her painting “La Danza,” which highlighted the importance of traditional Mexican dance, in both the pre-colonial era and the Mexican American community today.

“I wanted to showcase not only the movement of the dance but also the beauty of the traditional attire, which further represents cultural pride and unity,” Fernandez wrote in the art label beside her painting. “The meaning behind it goes beyond performance; it is about remembrance, appreciation, and shared connection. Just as people from different cultures can come together to admire and learn from one another’s traditions, art becomes a bridge that unites us all as a community, regardless of where we come from.”

After a night of celebrating students with mixed backgrounds and experiences, the banquet came to a close with a recognition of BAMS’ interns and E-Board members who put together the organization’s first banquet in over a decade.

“This banquet is a true reflection of the dedication and teamwork that went into bringing it to life,” Perez Alvarado wrote in the event program. “Being part of the BAMily and working with such wonderful people has been an amazing experience, and I’m excited for all that lies ahead for us. I truly value the memories we’ve created together and look forward to everything the future holds for our organization.”

This blend of various traditional Chinese arts was performed in the University’s Anderson Center’s Chamber Hall. Featuring several artists from the National Academy of Chinese Arts, a few BU students and other guest performers, the hour-and-a-half program saw nearly a full-house performance.

The concert consisted of 11 different performances, split into three acts, all selected by the performers. The performances led the audience on a culturally and historically significant journey, each focusing on a specific aspect of the arts, like vocal and instrumental music and dance.

The opening lion dance act was performed by three members of the University’s Kung Fu Club — Bassie Chin, the president and a senior double-majoring in art history and geography, Katelyn Chan, the secretary and a junior majoring in psychology and Owen Barrett, the treasurer and an undeclared sophomore — who captivated the audience with their memorable performance on stage.

Chin recounted his enjoyment of the lion dance performance.

“It’s fun to be able to show people what lion dance is, it’s such an important part of Chinese culture — at celebratory events, you always have lion dance,” Chin said. “Being Chinese and seeing that growing up, now I get to do it too.”

Chan shared this sentiment of being able to partake in cultural celebrations on campus that reminded them of the ones they grew up watching in New York City.

Other performers also shared this view of cultural pride. Zhongbei (Daisy) Wu, an award-winning guzheng artist and professor of music at Alfred University, said she wanted to share this piece of Chinese culture with the audience.

“Music is kind of a universal language, we understand each other by listening,” Wu said. “Even my instruments, for some of [the audience], it’s their first time seeing, but the music — it’s the same thing. We share the same melodies, the same sort of feeling when you listen to a piece of music, no matter if it’s from the East or West.”

Along with the lion dance and guzheng performances, the musical performances of Margaret Pej Reitz, a faculty member in the department of music at the University and Ithaca College School of Music, and Hong Zhang, an associate faculty member of music and senior instructor of Asian and Asian American studies, enhanced the sense of celebrating a culture from a faraway place.

In the eighth performance of the night, a heartfelt song titled “That’s Me” revolved around a homesick traveler expressing their feelings to the audience. The lyrics effectively tied together the strength of the connection between culture and music, as well as its importance to the performers and this celebration.

Performers Yimin Miao, a maestro of Chinese woodwind instruments and a co-founder of the Ba Ban Chinese Music Society of New York, who played the dizi and drums, and Yi Zhou, a virtuoso of the pipa and qin and the other co-founder of the New York Ba Ban Chinese Music Society who played the pipa and xiaocha, commented on how this performance provided an opportunity to share their culture with an American audience.

“I think the American audience — because we perform everywhere, international — is so open-minded, they accept new things, like the culture, from different countries easily,” Zhou said. “Also, they’re very friendly.”

This emphasis on music as a universal language and a means to evoke a sense of joy and hope was the focal point throughout the concert. Across the 11 performances, audiences glimpsed into the various ways each performer conveyed this feeling.

With dance and lyrical melodies, the voice of traditional Chinese music filled the halls of Anderson Center, providing a memorable event that invited the Binghamton community to this cultural celebration.

This celebration of culture provided students with information about Quimbamba and its history on campus and introduced attendees to the vibrant, unique styles of Latin dance. The informational session was headed by Jermelys Meyreles, president of Quimbamba and a junior majoring in psychology.

Founded in 1970 and chartered in 2013, Quimbamba performs at events and competitions at BU and other campuses. In the spring, the team hosts El Polvorín, a dance competition where teams from across the state travel to Binghamton to perform.

After the informational sessions, members explained and showcased the choreography to interested students. Attendees were invited to embrace Latin culture and enjoy the process of learning something new.

“We just wanted to have our people come in and embrace their culture and have fun celebrating with people who also love their culture, and enjoy good food while doing it,” Meyreles said.

The lesson highlighted merengue, a dance originating in the Dominican Republic that combines African, Spanish and Indigenous cultural influences. A dance as diverse as its people fit the aim of the lesson —sharing and celebrating culture.

Members of Quimbamba instructed attendees to perform parts of the team’s previously showcased choreography. The lesson portion of the event was open to beginners and punctuated with lighthearted humor as everyone spun around the room. Many of Quimbamba’s dancers stepped in and helped attendees with the choreography.

Throughout the lesson, attendees were carefully guided through the intricate steps of the choreography. With each segment, the dance fell into place as the music played through the room.

Zaret Cruz Brioso, head of fundraising for Quimbamba and a sophomore double-majoring in politics, philosophy and law and Latin American and Caribbean studies, led the counts for unfamiliar students. However, the event emphasized enjoying the experience over perfect footwork. The lesson showcased the power dance has to bring communities together.

“Dance is not only just a fun thing to do, or you only do it because you’re good at it,” Brioso said. “Dance is kind of a part of your heart. Even if you’re bad at it, you still get to connect with people and be the social being that we are supposed to be as humans.”

After the lesson, students enjoyed food catered from La Isla, including plátano maduro, pollo al horno, bistec encebollado and moro. Everyone was encouraged to grab a plate and partake in Latin and Caribbean food that is often absent from dining halls. The event exemplified a tight-knit community welcoming new members.

When it comes to cultural diffusion on campus, the Multicultural Resource Center holds weekly events embracing different cultures and provides a space for members of different communities to work, study or get together. Members of Quimbamba described the center as “welcoming” and a multipurpose area that students may not be aware of. Kayla Colon, a coordinator at the MRC, said that the center plans to host other events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.

However, these events do not simply cease after four weeks. The Multicultural Resource Center organizes events throughout the entire year to celebrate all cultures. Students are encouraged to bring their own experiences to these events and help develop the blossoming diversity on campus.

“If there’s something else that you want to see, or your own culture represented that you feel like isn’t represented yet, anyone can come to us and be like, ‘I want to see this happen,’ and we’ll make it happen.” Colon said.

The event took place Saturday, Sept. 13, and featured a variety of medieval and fantasy-themed activities for students to participate in. Joshua Rivera, a senior majoring in geological sciences and an events coordinator for Late Nite, proposed the original idea of hosting a Renaissance Faire.

Event festivities spanned across the ground floor of the Union and into the University Union Undergrounds. The Union classrooms hosted the bulk of the event’s arts and crafts activities, including making flower crowns, decorating tote bags and creating on-theme crafts like custom rings and wands. Attendees personalized their free accessories throughout the night with crystals, metallic charms and quills and ink.

n the Old Union Hall, students played a variety of carnival-style activities and games like mechanical bull riding.

Alyssa Whitehead, the campus activities coordinator, provided insight into the logistics of this semester’s Faire, explaining how students and Late Nite Binghamton staff brought the event to life after the success of the inaugural event last semester.

“I got to help [Rivera], our events coordinator, and our graduate assistant, Ateeq [Rahman ‘25, a first-year graduate student studying computer science],” Whitehead said. “I got to help them both plan this event. It was Josh’s vision — he took a lot of what he had planned for last semester, some of the stuff he didn’t get to do and some of the stuff he wanted to bring back.”

“It was great to work with some of our vendors that help bring stuff like the mechanical bull to campus,” she continued. “But it’s a lot of moving parts, it’s a lot of making sure we’re hitting a lot of different marks with a lot of different crafts, with something exciting — something for everyone.”

More popular activities like medieval warfare and boss fights were held in the Mandela Room, with an assortment of armor and weapons provided for participants to use. Attendees could participate in either of the two and completed quests provided by the Late Nite staff, during which they truly embraced the role-play aspect of the Renaissance Faire.

Next, a costume contest was held, which attracted an excited audience. Cheers were heard from the crowd as contestants played a range of instruments and recited Shakespearean sonnets. Winners were determined by challenging one another to duels, with both parties displaying great sportsmanship throughout the competition, often ending in a friendly embrace.

While attendees made crafts and participated in carnival games and role-play, the Old Union Hall offered a food hall experience, with options like bread rolls, chicken spiedies, grilled vegetables, mini doughnuts and sheet cake. Medieval lyres and hymns played in the background during the festivities.

Downstairs, as karaoke was sung between two rounds of costume contests, attendees were offered Butterbeer and a selection of exotic, specialty mocktails as refreshments.

The festival was a clear success, with the University Union full of attendees participating in Renaissance-themed activities. Dressed in a fur shawl, Rivera shared what the Late Nite Renaissance Faire means to him.

“In the past, we’ve always done Fantasy Night,” Rivera said. “But this was such a perfect opportunity to explore different types of cultures, explore foods, activities — things that people enjoy.”

With works dating from the beginning of the interwar period to the conclusion of World War II, the show spans a particularly tumultuous quarter-century, which includes the Roaring ’20s, the Great Depression, the implementation of the New Deal and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The exhibition shows a particular strength of the Binghamton University Art Museum’s collection, many of which were donated by local art collectors Gil and Deborah Williams in 2016. There are also several loans included in the show, with pieces made available from the BU libraries, the Roberson Museum and Science Center and the Art Bridges Collection.

Originally conceived by Professor McDonough and Chelsea Gibson, the director of the Binghamton Codes! Program, the showcase is the result of a pandemic-era project supported by Art Bridges to create digital exhibitions and programming to make art more accessible. At the opening, Professor McDonough remarked that “[Gibson’s] fingerprints are still on this here tonight.”

The exhibition incorporates the original project’s thematic categories: Americans Abroad; City Life; Everyday Americans; Government; Labor, Modernism; Picturing Black Lives; Protest; Rural Life and Labor; The West; War Time; and Women.

The categories are roughly chronological, with the first artwork being Jane Peterson’s 1919 painting “Courtyard of the Doges’ Palace, Venice” of the American tourists that flocked to Europe and its “revered landscapes and renowned museums” from the home they deemed a “cultural backwater.” The exhibition concludes with “Landscape with truck and barracks, Oct 1st 10 A.M.” and “Landscape before the rain, Oct 10th, 1942 7 P.M,” both by Chiura Obata. The two ink drawings depict the Utah internment camp where Obata was detained for being Japanese American.

The progression of the two is one of the few cynical moments of the show, which otherwise details how American artists responded to the tumultuous moment and grappled with the concept of American art and who is included in the country’s hopes and ideals. While innovations of this period are seen across the many works of the show, Obata’s spare and unremitting landscapes depict one of the main constants throughout American history — the need for change and an expansion of the definition and rights of American citizens.

Beyond the limits that American artists like Obata faced during this period, the exhibition showcases how the art world welcomed individuals beyond the wealthy, white, usually male demographic. Women and Black Americans had more autonomy to live and work as artists, often representing themselves and their concerns in new and innovative ways.

One that does this in a particularly interesting manner is James Lesesne Wells’ “Untitled (Man Carving Idols),” dated to around 1929. In this work, Wells, a Black artist, depicts an image of the white artist in his studio creating his own idols. In this space, the idol is removed from its original context and purpose, which often was not as an art object, and used instead as a source of inspiration for “modern art’s experimentation.” He uses this “white European idiom” for this image, demonstrating the complicated relationship the artist likely had with the use of African imagery, divorced from its original meaning by American artists.

Another fascinating example of the ways the boundaries of American art shifted during this period, while still leaving room for change and growth, can be seen in Helen Torr’s self portrait on loan from Art Bridges. The portrait’s intense and arresting gaze is enhanced by the equally noxious and intoxicating green light that casts over Torr. This lets the portrait expand beyond the canvas, making a home close to its viewers, whether that is welcome or not.

While conceived of in a very different political moment, the tension that this exhibition explores surrounding questions of American art and identity are remarkably prescient in the current political climate, at a time where the federal government has attempted to revoke arts funding from programming that promotes “diversity, equity and inclusion” or “gender ideology” in favor of “[reflecting] the nation’s rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by the President.”

“Those things [have] always been a question of who gets to fall under that umbrella of representation, and one of the exciting, inspiring things about American art is that you know art has been a space where that’s really been fought out, like, played out, you know, argued over,” McDonough said.

Currently based in the northern suburbs of New York City, the band has played for several years in the Westchester area. In the past, they played “A Hard Day’s Night” as the “record of the month” at a local music venue. Barry Witt ‘80, the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist, explained the process of being able to perform at the University’s annual Homecoming weekend.

“Since I have been playing in a band, The Any Time At All Band, I thought it would be great if we could play on campus,” Witt wrote in an email. “Just by chance, 3 of the 4 members of the band were Binghamton alumni (one is unable to attend this performance at Homecoming), so we thought it would be a great opportunity to come back to campus for the Homecoming weekend and visit our alma mater. I have been to several Homecoming weekends in the past and saw several bands perform there, so I suggested to Alicia Casper, the Alumni Events Coordinator, that maybe our band could come back to perform, and, thankfully, my offer was accepted.”

Band members Aidan Burns ’97, on rhythm guitar, keyboard and vocals, David Nodiff ’84, on bass guitar and vocals and Witt all pursued STEM degrees during their time at the University while also participating in the local music scene. Sean Vinci, the band’s drummer and vocalist, who attended Berklee College of Music, will also be performing at Homecoming. Burns, who took music department classes during his time at the University, is unable to attend.

Witt recalled that music was everywhere during his time at the University, blaring out of dorm windows and on-campus music venues. Additionally, famous bands like The Kinks, Eagles and Talking Heads performed on campus and in the local area.

“My wife and I performed as a duo at several on campus shows including Delaware Days and the Newing Follies, and I performed at the Broome Closet in the basement of Broome Hall,” he wrote. “I was also a member of the on-campus band, Bondy, which included well-known alumnus, Marc Lawrence, ’81, as well as Paul Bogas, ’81, and Barry Pociask, ’81. Remarkably, Bondy was written up in the Pipe Dream in an article where we were described as ‘SUNY-B’s #1 Band.’”

Nodiff explained that he attended the 25th anniversary Homecoming in 2009 and visited campus when his son was a student. During his time at the University, Nodiff participated in various ensembles.

“I loved playing in the orchestra and with the pit band for shows,” Nodiff wrote in an email. “It allowed me to continue playing cello, which was my first instrument. Sue Peters, who directed the music for the shows, was one of my favorite people and she gave me an opportunity to play both cello and bass.”

“That has continued to be the catalyst for my involvement with playing gigs, even today,” he continued.

The Any Time At All Band will primarily play Beatles songs, incorporating well-known hits and deep cuts that the audience may not be familiar with. Witt said the band emphasizes being as true to the original songs as possible, learning the parts for the Beatles’ “incredible vocal harmonies.”

The alumni band is a testament to Binghamton’s lasting impact on students. Both Witt and Nodiff’s children attended the University, and Witt, along with his wife Marjorie Strelzyn ’81, has continued to be an active member of the community through the alumni board and campaigns.

Witt and Strelzyn also created the Strelzyn-Witt A-OK Acts of Kindness Scholarship, which awards students with “fine character” and helps others through repeated acts of kindness. Witt said they are working to develop another scholarship, Say Yes to Success, to allow students who would have been unable to explore their academic passion to do so.

“I am hoping that students will see that as alumni, we have a strong life-long connection to the University, and that even if music is not your day job, it can enrich your life and provide a great outlet,” Witt wrote. “I hope that we can inspire the students to want to maintain their ties to the University after they leave and to continue to contribute to its future success. Finally, I would be pleased if our performance of the Beatles’ music will improve their appreciation of classic rock music and the history of that period in the 1960s when the music really revolutionized the world.”

An array of multicultural organizations tabled to share their missions and communities, including the Juvenile Urban Multicultural Program, Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Henna Club and the Bangali Student Association.

Alyssa Soto, the president of the Caribbean Student Association, student manager of the Multicultural Resource Center and a senior majoring in psychology, described what she hopes students gain from this event.

“I hope to see people connecting with the community,” Soto said. “I think this event is a way for students on campus to see what we have going on on campus if they weren’t able to attend UFEST. So it’s just another way to connect and get to know people and resources on campus. We’re one of the resources on campus that allows students to come and have a safe space, whether it be for meeting new people or just for you to study or to try out new things.”

E-Board members represented their missions and shared ways students could get involved on campus. QR codes and GroupMe forms were available for students to scan alongside club decorations, with organization logos visible from every table. Additionally, students received cards upon entry, allowing them to collect stamps for visiting tables, which could be exchanged for food provided by the multicultural organizations.

Newer organizations, like the Mexican American Student Association, also tabled at the event. Jennifer Vivar, the historian of MASA and a junior majoring in business administration, explained the organization’s mission and what they hope to share with the student body, after being established last semester to build a stronger community on campus.

“We try to bring awareness to what it is to be Mexican,” Vivar said. “Our culture overall and our values, our morals and our struggles, our weaknesses, stuff like that. How the world portrays Mexicans, but [we] bring some spotlight to that, and try to show other people what we are, beyond a little message that they know about.”

Among many cultural organizations, professional and career-oriented organizations were also tabling at the event. The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers centers around supporting students of Hispanic culture to connect with alumni in the engineering field, while also sharing a sense of cultural community.

Luis Ramón, the president of SHPE and a senior majoring in computer science, shared how this organization affected his time at Binghamton since joining SHPE his freshman year.

“It got me more oriented around campus and having a set of community here, and I think overall, all of my experiences, whether professional [or not], they stem from this organization,” Ramón said. “So it did really help me out, especially the alumni who graduated — they really did make an impact on me.”

Soto also shared advice for new students on campus looking for ways to get involved and find their community at Binghamton.

“It’s important in college to try to connect in a different way because you’re away from your family, you’re away from home and now you have to try to find new ways to connect with your community,” Soto said. “You can try to connect with your culture or look into different cultures, try different things, try new things. It’s important to try to get out of your comfort zone.”

Tina Chang ’91, an English professor and the director of creative writing and Jennifer DeGregorio Ph.D. ’21, a lecturer and the associate director of creative writing, headed the event and showcased the agenda for the night.

The event began with a brief introduction from Chang, who highlighted Ph.D. students on an English track, such as Samia Ahmed, Shannon Hearn and Derek Ellis, and praised their cultivation and growth in creative writing during their time at Binghamton University. The list included DeGregorio, who recently earned her Ph.D in creative writing.

Chang said that while writing is often solitary, developing community as a writer is crucial. Later, she discussed the University’s creative writing program and its efforts to help cultivate students’ creativity.

“I would say the mission of the creative writing program is to meet with a writer who has maybe an inkling, initially, of what it is that they love to do, and hopefully somewhere within the area of interest of either poetry, fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting,” Chang said. “These are just a few of the things that we offer, and to be able to help them cultivate those interests so that they deepen the interest and maybe even potentially imagine a career for themselves one day that incorporates the skills that they’ve learned here.”

The evening featured information from several campus organizations that contribute to the University’s literary and creative writing community. After Chang’s introduction, Ellis spoke about the Common Ground Reading Series, a program aimed at creating a safe space on campus where anyone can share their creative work with others in monthly readings.

Additionally, representatives from the Harpur Palate Literary Journal, the Common Ground Reading Series, the Triple Cities undergraduate literary journal, Eleventh Hour Literary, Creative Writing Club and the Binghamton Poetry Club discussed their work and the opportunities they provide for students. Their presentations introduced the audience to the different ways these groups support writing, publishing and literary engagement on campus.

Elaine Braunshweiger, co-editor-in-chief and co-founder of Triple Cities literary magazine and a junior double-majoring in English and comparative literature, shared the mission of the new magazine.

“The mission of our organization is to cultivate a stronger community around the creative writing undergraduate students on campus because there have been efforts in the past to bring us all together,” Braunshweiger said. “But as was mentioned earlier in the event, writing is often a solitary activity, but when we enter the literary magazine space, we have to come together, not only to write and publish, but also for anyone that wants to go into the publishing industry, this is a really good opportunity for them to get some hands-on experience. And for us, it’s a thoughtful career exercise as well — kind of learning as we go.”

After each organization introduced itself, DeGregorio presented Binghamton’s poetry award winners, who shared their work with the audience. Academy of American Poets Prize recipients went first, including Lisa Compo, a Ph.D student in creative writing and Olivia Drury, a senior double-majoring in integrative neuroscience and English, who presented thought-provoking and striking poems.

Last but not least was Priscilla Diaz, a junior majoring in English and the third-place winner of the Andrew Bergman Award, with a piece showcasing vivid imagery containing descriptive blends of gore and mutilation.

Chang later discussed a project called “Word of Mouth,” guided by herself, Daniel Thomas Davis, a professor of music, Thomas Goodheart, an associate professor of voice and William Culverhouse, associate professor of music and director of choral activities. The project is for poets and short-form writers who are interested in transforming their words into music, uniting poets, composers and performers across multiple mediums.

DeGregorio spoke about the distinct qualities that set Binghamton’s creative writing program apart, emphasizing its supportive community. This includes the diverse opportunities for student involvement and the range of publications and events available that allow writers to share their work.

After the presentation, attendees mingled over soft drinks and food, celebrating creativity and connecting over inspiring opportunities and artistic expression.

The Binghamton Center for Writers brought together the student body and helped foster strong relationships with the English Department. By connecting student organizations, faculty and peers, the evening showcased the collaborative spirit of Binghamton’s creative writing community, leaving attendees with a clearer sense of how they can evolve and grow as writers.

“Creative writing is actually wonderfully flexible,” Chang said. “Having a background in creative writing can really lend itself basically to any career, because in any career, you have to be able to write clearly and effectively and be able to express your thoughts candidly and with care, and that’s pretty much any job. And so I think that if we can help students to move toward a clear career choice, while also feeling like their work is deeply valued, I think that we’ve done our job.”

Editor’s Note (9/10): This article was updated to remove a quote attached to incorrect context.

Following the event’s announcement earlier last week on its newly created Instagram page, the self-run contest was led by several judges who allowed each contestant to make a pitch to the crowd. After participants showcased their outfits, wired headphones and guitars, the audience voted on who they believed to be “most performative.”

Aligning with online memes, feminism and female creatives were a central topic of discussion. The “performative male” is typically a self-proclaimed feminist, engaging in pro-women discourse solely for approval and modeling their personality and style after what they perceive women want.

While distributing menstrual products, one contestant was asked how he felt about menstruation, to which he began to chant “fuck period cramps,” urging the crowd to join.

Daphne Linn, a judge for the event and a freshman majoring in English, explained that the event was unique to college life — coming out of class and seeing such an eccentric, nonsensical contest rooted in Gen Z humor was very different from the typical high school experience.

Merchandise from female artists like Beabadoobee, Clairo and Lana Del Rey was also on full display, as contestants wore merch and showed off vinyls to demonstrate their interest in women-centered spaces. This was also showcased in the form of feminist literature, as contestants displayed their knowledge of women’s history and social struggles to the audience.

Morgan Brenner, a sophomore majoring in industrial and systems engineering, shared why he decided to compete in the contest.

“I was just tired of seeing the state of the world today,” Brenner said. “I really felt I needed to see some change, and I thought I would share my insights with the world.”

Matcha, Labubus and tote bags were all popular choices for props, while some contestants even played their guitars for the audience. Although they seemed to blur together in their fashion sense, each contestant displayed their interests in creative ways through their accessories.

Brenner discussed how the contest played out and his preparation for the event.

“It’s pretty grueling,” Brenner said. “Most people went out and bought matcha, but what are they doing? I brewed my own yerba mate. I don’t mess around, it really means so much to be here today.”

Contestants wore staples to the performative look like button-down shirts, trousers or baggy jeans and were accessorized head to toe with jewelry, carabiners and skateboards.

Ben Hymowitz, a freshman majoring in philosophy, politics and law, explained that his look was “Bushwick inspired and Brooklyn made,” a nod to a specific category of performative men who make living in Brooklyn central to their identity.

“I get called performative on the daily,” Hymowitz said. “And I just thought that I’d prove that I’m the most performative one.”

Most contestants stayed in character even before making their pitch to the crowd, engaging in light discourse with one another.

“I think it’s great that they’re all coming out and making jokes about it because sometimes people get upset about stuff,” Linn said. “But everyone’s just having a really good time being light-hearted, and it’s a lot of fun to bring people together. I feel like people are talking to people that they don’t know and making friends, and that’s really cool to see — random stuff bringing people together.”

Twelve multicultural performance organizations tabled at Old Union Hall, showcasing their art and providing information to potential new members.

Precious Ademokun, the president of Undivided and a junior majoring in political science, explained that she organized the group fair after she realized there were no spaces on campus catered to multicultural performers. As the leader of the University’s only multicultural singing group, Ademokun wanted to create a safe space for students of color to find creative communities.

“Coming into the multicultural community as a freshman, I really did see how it really is a family,” Ademokun said. “And I know as a freshman you’re really nervous, and you’re scared to branch out, especially in the multicultural community, so I hope people come and they’re able to find their families through their talents and through their performances.”

Attendees grabbed complimentary food at the front of the hall and leisurely checked out each organization. Tables featured information, free stickers and ways to get in contact with respective groups.

As a recently established dance group that focuses on open-style choreography, Collision tabled to promote one of the newest creative teams on campus.

“We were established last year, and we thought that it would be a great opportunity to just get that promo out for us and spread our name around,” Maggie Liang, co-director of Collision and a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, said. “I think Collison isn’t only a place to really train and grow your passion, but to get to know other people who like to dance as well.”

Throughout the night, short performances by Binghamton Bhangra, Undivided and Collison showcased to guests what the University’s creative teams have to offer.

X-Fact’r Step Team was among the various multicultural organizations tabling. Anna Kabwa, president of X-Fact’r and a senior majoring in anthropology, explained her goals for the event.

“I hope people find a place where they feel comfortable and where they feel accepted,” Kabwa said. “Especially at a PWI, it’s very important for students of color to find places where they can be themselves and express themselves through performance, through cultural performance, and I hope that people can find that here.”

Despite the first-ever performance fair having a good turnout, Ademokun said she hopes the event will continue to expand throughout the years and attract more students. While annual tabling events like UFEST and the Multicultural Extravaganza help organizations reach students, the Multicultural Performance Group Fair provides artistic groups with the space to proudly display their community and art style.

“I think it’s really important to just get to know the different performing organizations and see what effort and grit people put into their work,” Liang said. “Because I feel like we don’t get many chances to just show our passions and perform, so I think it’s a really great opportunity for everyone to learn from each other and watch each other and be happy to be around people who like to do the same thing as you.”

Kanaan Distant, a music director and the historian for Undivided and a junior majoring in music, discussed the importance of the newly established event.

“It shows that we can come together,” Distant said. “Even though we are different forms of art, we can all come together and do an event that showcases all forms of art across genres, across cultures and just be united.”

Held at the amphitheater under Appalachian Dining Hall at 5:15 p.m., the event provided an open performance environment where inclusivity was the priority and everyone was welcome. Since its founding in 2019 by Dr. Dana Stewart, collegiate professor for Mountainview and an associate professor in Italian and medieval studies, and her husband, Bob Rynone, Mountainview Jams has become a staple of Binghamton University student life. With a full band setup, professional stage equipment and an open invitation to all skill levels and styles, the Jams give every participant what Stewart calls a “rock-star welcome.”

The evening kicked off with “Dr. Dana & the Jam Dept.,” led by Stewart and Rynone, featuring local artist Bob Alan Bricks on drums and Jams intern Calan Ibrahim ’25 on bass. The band frequently rotates its cast of student musicians and interns, keeping each show fresh and collaborative.

Following their set, Mountainview Jams social media intern and first-year master of business administration student Sarah Zarember ’24 delivered a moving performance of “Feeling Good,” popularized by renditions from Nina Simone and Michael Bublé. Her emotional vibrato and vocals carried across the amphitheater, heightening excitement for the rest of the night.

From there, the stage belonged to the students. Performers showcased a mix of original songs, covers and spontaneous collaborations. Some were seasoned musicians who commanded the spotlight with ease, while others were first-timers discovering the thrill of live performance. Each act was met with enthusiastic applause, creating an atmosphere where every performer, regardless of experience, felt supported and celebrated.

For Stewart, that growth and encouragement are at the heart of Mountainview Jams.

“I love to see people stepping up and challenging themselves, and I feel like the confidence that they gain by doing that transfers over into all areas of their life,” Stewart said. “So it’s not even just about the performing and the fun. It feels like it’s about personal growth and community and even mental health.”

Mountainview Jams thrives on collaboration and community, bringing together students, faculty and staff in a shared love of music. Performers often join forces for impromptu duets, group songs or full-band collaborations, creating a sense of camaraderie both on stage and in the audience.

The event’s inclusive spirit extended beyond the music, as even Sylvester, the Mountainview Jams mascot, made an appearance, posing for photos with attendees and adding a playful energy to the afternoon. From first-time performers to seasoned musicians, everyone had a chance to connect, celebrate each other’s talents and share in a truly communal experience.

After the event, Stewart highlighted the importance and purpose of Mountainview Jams.

“In my experience, music — especially live music — brings people together,” Stewart wrote. “In a world where many of us feel isolated from each other, music can connect us, strongly and quickly! Also, there have been many recent studies showing the positive effects of music (whether we are making it or listening to it) on both mental and physical health.”

“So what we are doing is fun, it also has so many benefits to all who participate in any way,” she continued.

The event thrived thanks to the team of student interns — dubbed the “Dream Team” by Stewart — who manage sound, lighting, signups, social media and more. Their efforts ensure that each Jam runs smoothly, while also providing valuable experience in teamwork, leadership and music production.

“Although I have only been here for one short year, I can most certainly say that Mountainview Jams is one of the most incredible things on campus,” Caleb Huchro, a Jams intern and sophomore majoring in environmental science, wrote. “It provides students a safe and respectful atmosphere to share a slice of themselves with the people of Mountainview College and Appalachian Dining Hall. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, if you have a song to share, then Mountainview Jams is here to help facilitate you every step of the way.”

At its heart, Mountainview Jams is about more than live music — it’s about fostering friendship, creativity and inclusivity on campus, making it one of the most impactful traditions at Binghamton University.

The Peace Quad was filled with countless stalls and tables showcasing over 250 clubs on campus. Accompanied by a live DJ, the sunny Peace Quad was a great place to mingle and start the semester off by meeting new people. Students interacted with different clubs and received free merchandise, making it the perfect opportunity for organizations to make a personal impact and talk to students individually.

“UFEST (University Fest) is a campus tradition going back to 1993,” Jennifer Keegin, director of campus activities, wrote in an email. “It started as a ‘campus/community’ event that invited local vendors to come to campus and showcase what the region had to offer to students. Since then, UFEST has grown and changed.”

The University and the event’s growing scale mean that planning is largely a team effort. Both Campus Activities and Nick Ginsberg, the executive vice president of the Student Association, worked over the summer to plan this year’s UFEST, according to Keegin. Typically taking place on the Peace Quad and Spine, the organizers expanded their layout to include Lot B and more organizations and academic departments.

The process also came with some challenges due to its size. As UFEST expands, however, the planning committee also changes the event’s limits to accommodate the student body’s needs.

“Planning where organizations can table was definitely a challenge,” Ginsberg wrote. “However, it was made easier because this year, my office sent a preferences form to all groups tabling at UFEST asking which category they’d like to table in as well as who they want to table next to. This took a huge amount of work off of the EVP Office, because instead of guessing where groups want to table, they were able to tell us.”

“I think that the preferences form made the challenge of placing groups at different tables a lot easier,” he continued.

Musical and performance organizations put on small performances for excited onlookers. Many tabling clubs handed out snacks and goodies to interested students, and attendees had the chance to participate in attractions like a large rock wall, a drone dome and raffles.

For many organizations and clubs, UFEST is the best time to gauge student body interest one-on-one. Members can connect with students looking to join on a deeper level compared to a larger setting, like general interest meetings.

“This is our biggest recruiting event of the year,” Mark Stephens, an instructional support specialist in the physics department and the instructor for the Physics Outreach Project, said. “We’ve got the most people here, and this is the best time to do recruiting. We’ve got all these new freshmen on campus. This is before our schedule of programs starts, so we can get some fresh volunteers in, get them up and running.”

Along with perusing clubs, students stopped by student vendors featuring clothing and jewelry and some local stores from the area selling winter hats and gloves. Students snacked on free candy and snow cones to escape the heat.

“UFEST is such an important event to have at BU because it is the only time of year where almost 300 organizations and departments are all together on the Peace Quad,” Ginsberg wrote. “That means that new (and returning) students have the ability to find groups that they had no idea existed. UFEST is one of a kind in the ways that it shows how big of a community we have here at Binghamton, and the range of clubs we offer. Beyond that, UFEST is just a fun event for student groups to table together, share why they love their group, and get creative with their tabling set up.”

The Festival of the Arts is a collaborative process that unites all art forms created at Binghamton University, honoring students’ annual achievements and creativity. Spanning the Fine Arts Building, guests roamed around and experienced the festival at their own pace.

“It’s all about showcasing the talent, passion, and hard work of our artists — whether they’re in visual arts, design, art history, music, theater, cinema, or creative writing,” Christopher Robbins, founding director of the School of the Arts, wrote in an email. “It started as a way to break down the walls between our disciplines and create a vibrant, collaborative space where students could share their work with the broader community. We wanted something that felt dynamic and inclusive, and the festival really embodies that spirit.”

On May 7, guests were greeted with a hybrid art workshop, where they designed tote bags, snacked on some food and won free shirts, stickers and tote bags from the Art Co-op, a student-run supply store in the Fine Arts Building. Tables lined the main hall with DIY tote bags and a station where guests tried an art form that they were unfamiliar with, like collaging, writing poetry or painting.

In the hallways along the first floor, cinema reels and headphones were provided for attendees to experience short films that students created for their senior theses. Audience members could go to a classroom to watch the films from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Live jazz and opera played in the Grand Corridor as guests appreciated the walls adorned with the works of visual arts students, snacking on light refreshments. Attendees waited in line for screen-printed t-shirts and tote bags, where guests watched them be created. This visual art exhibition spanned hallways, leading to the Art & Design showcase in the Elsie B. Rosefsky Memorial Art Gallery, displaying students’ beautiful pieces stemming from months of hard work.

Putting the festival together was a long process, as planning started almost a year in advance.

“It was most important to have similar works separated from each other so that people could see how diverse all the works are and the difference in styles every student has,” Francesca Brizio, a senior double-majoring in biology and art and design and an intern for the Department of Art and Design who had her work showcased, wrote in an email. “We are a diverse group of people and artists, and that is why it is so amazing to bring it all together in one show.”

Students from the Theatre Department demonstrated their work with musical theater and improv performances, and a separate room showcased the technical aspect behind their performances. The room was full of posters displaying the process of building the sets and their different versions before making the final production of this year’s stage performances, including “Sweat” and “As You Like It.”

Costumes and set pieces were also displayed, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the designers’ work to create shows of this scale.

The second day of the festival commenced on May 9 with new additions from the Department of Art and Design like photography, visual media and more.

Sculpture and canvas art created by graduating students were showcased throughout the building. Some students created adaptations of their favorite books and films, while others created activist pieces by depicting political statements. Guests could travel down to the first floor to also experience interactive art through sound and visual projections.

The Creative Writing Department also showcased multiple readings, which highlighted student creativity.

During Poetpalooza, a poetry reading, students shared pieces they had written over the semester. Guests popped in and listened to contemporary monologues, haikus and Shakespeare recitations performed by students.

The second Word of Mouth event, a collaboration between the Music and Creative Writing Departments, showcased student poetry, composed and sung along with student musicians to create a poetic culmination of music.

The festival concluded with student award ceremonies for different artistic fields.

“I want students, regardless of major, to realize that the Arts at Binghamton are for them,” Robbins wrote. “The festival isn’t just an end point — it’s a jumping-off place for future collaborations. Come by, meet people, and get inspired.”

Rogelio Lopez, a Costa Rican choreographer and the show’s guest director, worked alongside associate directors Neva Kenny, an assistant professor of dance, and Elizabeth Mozer, an associate professor of theatre. Together, they used unique movements, props and costuming to channel various elements of humanity and nature.

A collaboration between students and faculty, the performance exemplified the shared experience of humanity under Rogelio’s guidance and use of “El Teatro de Imagen,” a genre of theater that tells a story through dramatic movement and physicality. The interpretive performance allowed the audience to engage with each act in a way that resonated with them.
Lopez highlighted the versatility of visual and performing arts as a form of communication, rather than spoken language.

“I’m trying to build communication and because I don’t know the language, it’s very difficult for me, but I can talk with you thanks to the image — and that’s perfect,” Lopez said. “That’s my idea of how we are over the limits of the communication. And my life has tried to create that language. My life, it’s almost 50 years, working every day without the words and silent image, because that image, when you see it, you immediately create a connection.”

“And that is ‘Teatro de Imagen,’” he continued. “Because theater is voice — that’s theater in particular. Of course, there’s a lot of ways to do theater, but in particular to speak about how we can build a language without speaking, but speaking a lot — that’s the idea of the ‘Teatro de Imagen.’”

“Encounters” was an evocative representation of the beauty of the human experience, encapsulating both the good and the bad aspects of life on Earth. The audience travels with the characters, exploring different cultures and emotions like love, joy and grief. A poetic metaphor for the complexity of human nature, the show drew attention to current issues like climate change and capitalism.

Lopez explained how he used different physical aspects of theater to build on nonverbal communication in his art.

“And at the same time, for that is to use two elements, the human body and all that is around, like the objects, the projections, the music, etc., etc., etc.,” Lopez said. “But the human and in particular — the gestures, because the gestures is the language without words, isn’t it?”

Lopez said that the performance was created in only four weeks in a more non-traditional rehearsal process, which uplifted students’ unique talents and captured the abstract.

“‘Encounters’ was a devised piece in that it wasn’t necessarily the traditional way of doing theater where it’s top down,” said CK Zaki, an interpreter for Lopez and a senior double-majoring in theatre and Spanish. “You have a playwright who writes a text, and then that text gets interpreted by one director and then the director makes all the choices of how then the actors move. It was a very collaborative environment and process. And I think that that was really cool, because the overall product of it is informed directly by those who were involved in it.”

Kenny and Mozer translated the intricacies of Lopez’s vision to the stage while playing the protagonists in the show. As aliens from an unfamiliar planet, they explore Earth through an outsider’s point of view and discover what it means to be human.

“There was a lot of exploration and opportunity to start to be comfortable in the uncomfortableness of being seen in something in a language that may be different than what you are used to,” Kenny said.

The protagonists are spiritually connected women who challenge the traditional male adventurer archetype. Through each act, Lopez emphasized the importance of making space for women and nature.

Along with live music and songs, “Encounters” also featured spoken word performances in a variety of languages. Jamie Papa, a first-year master’s student studying theater, sang in English and Filipino, while Yulia Garavea, a senior double-majoring in anthropology and sociology and Heidy Batista Garcia, a lecturer of theatre, read letters crafted for their parents in Russian and Spanish, adding an identity-based element to the show.

“Encounters” has a contemplative, interpretive ending, as the characters depart from Earth and leave the audience understanding how to learn from the past to reach for a brighter future. The show defied expectations by bringing contemporary productions to a wider audience on campus.

“I think that there is a lot of beauty in ambiguity, and I hope that the audience was able to sort of fit in the multiple interpretations possible from the show, and to bring whatever they feel is personally relevant to them to it,” Zaki said. “I think the show was really, I mean, it’s called ‘Encounters,’ and I feel like it really is about encountering humanity from different perspectives and different lived experiences and how those different lived experiences kind of communicate a universal humanity. I hope people were able to find something personal and universal in it.”

Shaadi, which translates to wedding in Hindi and Urdu, refers to the specific customs, culture and community surrounding both Indian and Pakistani weddings. Mock Shaadi brought the full experience of an authentic Pakistani wedding to the campus community, all while highlighting the culture’s vibrancy and elegance.

“I want people to feel like they were invited into something real — like they were actually part of a Pakistani wedding, not just watching one,” Maha Naeem, the organization’s president and a junior majoring in integrative neuroscience, wrote in an email. “These weddings aren’t just about tradition — they’re about connection, community, and family. So much effort, emotion, and love goes into every little thing — from the dances to the decor to the games — and I hope people see that.”

“I want them to walk away feeling like they experienced that warmth and that beautiful chaos,” she continued. “Especially for people who aren’t Pakistani or didn’t grow up around this, I hope they leave with a deeper appreciation for our culture — like, ‘Wow, this is what it feels like to be part of it.’”

The Mandela Room was decked out in shades of white, gold and light blues, as the colors tied into the bride’s lehenga. The stage at the front of the room had a wildflower and pink and red roses arch, set against the backdrop of light blue and white silk curtains. Rose petals were scattered across the stage in front of the seats of honor that the bride and groom took upon arrival.

The decorations and layouts of the tables were inspired by formal wedding plans, as each table had white and gold plates and gold silverware topped off with artfully folded light blue cloth napkins. The centerpieces varied from table to table, as some had floral centerpieces and others had golden candle assortments, all tying back to the decorations on the stage.

Guests enjoyed a snack table throughout the night with an abundance of options from different countries to promote inclusivity. There were multicolored macarons, chocolate-filled biscuits, spicy gummy candy in little bags and different flavors of lychee jelly cups. The wedding cake was the snack table’s centerpiece, as its assortment of pink and white flowers stood out against the light white frosting of the cake.

A separate table off to the side of the room offered orange and blue frosting cupcakes to the guests. Each cupcake was decorated with flowers and sugar pearls.

Near the stage, guests took pictures in a small setup of string lights, pink silk curtains and even more wildflowers, commemorating the event and their glamorous outfits with photos with friends and fellow organization members.

Before the event began, attendees started the night with a few first-come, first-served appetizers, including samosas, tandoori chicken, salad, a savory noodle dish and raita — a yogurt-based condiment popular among South Asian countries. Drinks were provided to guests, with a table near the back of the room offering various brands of soda, water and several flavors of Red Bull.

As the lights dimmed and guests took to their seats, members of the PSA E-Board were announced and came out in traditional South Asian attire. Interns were introduced one by one in a grand entrance as their contributions to the event and the organization were shared with the audience.

Naeem took a moment to thank several organizations in attendance, the choreographers for putting together the upcoming performances and others who helped to make Mock Shaadi come to life.

“Mock Shaadi is our way of bringing a full-on Pakistani wedding experience to campus,” Naeem wrote. “For me, it’s more than just an event — it’s a way to recreate the chaos, joy, and togetherness I felt growing up going to shaadis in Pakistan.”

“I remember staying up all night with my cousins the night before weddings, cramming in last-minute dance practices, arguing over outfits or who’s off-beat — but still having the best time,” she continued. “That whole vibe of being in a shaadi ka ghar (a wedding house) — where the pressure is on, and everyone is screaming at each other, but it’s all love and laughter — that’s what we try to bring into Mock Shaadi.” (1)

Shortly after the introductions, a game of musical chairs began with volunteers from the crowd ranging from visiting high schoolers to members of other cultural organizations invited to play. The game was the most interactive portion of the night, as audience members were encouraged to cheer on their friends to win the game.

Following this, the bride, Ushima Chowdhury, entered with her bridal party. She was dressed in a lavender lehenga complete with silver accents, complemented with gold jewelry and a maang tikka — a type of head jewelry meant to ward off any negative energy, symbolizing blessings and protection for the journey ahead. The soft, melodic tune of “Kudmayi (Film Version)” by Pritam, Shahid Mallya and Amitabh Bhattacharya played as she made her way across the room and onto the stage.

Chowdhury, a senior majoring in biochemistry, described why she participated in Mock Shaadi.

“Although I’ve only been part of the Bangali Student Association for the past four years, I always made sure to attend all the major banquets — including mock shaadi itself,” Chowdhury, a senior majoring in biochemistry, wrote. “With planning mock Gaye holud for BSA, I’ve always loved mock wedding festivities and thought it would be an amazing way to end [off] my time in Binghamton with my friends.”

The groom made his entrance along with his wedding party, as several of the groomsmen carried him in, led by members of the bridal party. They excitedly made their way down the aisle towards the bride, with the groom ending the procession with a brief solo dance.

Several of the cultural organizations that were invited to the event, including the Arab Student Association, Bangali Student Association, Hindu Student Council, Muslim Student Association, Sikh & Punjabi Student Association and the Indian International Student Union, were encouraged to take pictures with the bride and groom after their grand entrance.

The bride and groom then took to the center of the room and sat side by side, eagerly awaiting the performances.

The initial dances were led by a group of women, followed by a group of men. Both parties danced to a mashup of various Bollywood songs, including “Sajna, Say Yes To The Dress” by Badshah and Payal Dev and “Diwali Mela Final” by Alex and kiran.

“We just wanted to focus on making it feel as real and full of energy as an actual shaadi,” Naeem wrote. “Every part of the planning — the messiness, the last-minute changes, the late-night rehearsals — has been true to life, and that’s what gives the event its soul.”

The bride and groom were then treated to an E-Board dance, followed by an energetic performance by Binghamton Bhangra members. Halfway through group performances from the wedding parties, the bride and groom surprised the audience by joining in.

Dinner was served shortly after the performances and included naan, rice, chana masala and paneer tikka masala served with mixed vegetables.

While no real vows were made, the bride and groom followed the other aspects of a desi wedding, with extravagant entrances and an open dance floor. Another tradition was the cutting of the cake. It was the most anticipated part of the night, as guests excitedly waited for the bride and groom to share the cake with one another. The moment was met with raucous cheers and applause from the audience, most notably when the groom decided to feed the bride a piece of the cake as “Apna Bana Le” played in the background.

Shortly after sharing the cake, the bride and groom took to the floor to share their first dance. Starting slow, the dance allowed the audience to fully appreciate the details in their wedding outfits, as a spotlight allowed for the gold accents in the bride’s lehenga to stand out, complementing the groom’s dark purple kurta.

It wasn’t long before the audience joined the dance floor, as the E-Board encouraged people to join in group celebratory dances with the bride and groom. They danced along to hits like “Sadi Gali,” ending the night with a dance party.

“I think it brings something really warm and fun to campus that people don’t get to experience often,” Naeem wrote of Mock Shaadi. “It’s not just a cultural show — it’s an invitation to be part of something. You walk in and feel like you’re at a real wedding, not just watching one. And especially with how stressful school can get, it’s nice to have a night where everyone’s just celebrating together, dancing, eating good food, and laughing. It’s one of those events that reminds you how special the community can feel when it’s done with heart.”

This year’s festival, which took place on the Peace Quad, the Admission Center’s sidewalk and the Old Dickinson Quad, was themed “Tides n’ Vibes” — a nod to A Boogie’s smash hit “Drowning (feat. Kodak Black).”

The festival embodied a deep-sea aesthetic and implemented neon and bioluminescent accents like sparkly purple and blue jellyfish decorations that hung in the Peace Quad trees, along with jellyfish stilt walkers. Attendees even had the opportunity to purchase mini stuffed manatees and themed merch.

Rides like swings, a super slide, a carousel and more spanned across the Peace Quad for attendees to enjoy. Smaller activities like a balloon popping game, axe throwing, face painting and a gaming tent, with Mario Kart, Wii Sports and a photo booth, were also available.

“I hope students get a chance to unwind and have fun before the stress of finals,” Andrea Shirkey, SAPB’s festivals chair and a senior double-majoring in Latin American and Caribbean studies and philosophy, politics and law, wrote in an email. “It’s one of the last major campus-wide events of the year, and it’s a chance to enjoy free rides, food, and music—and to see a New York City artist many of us grew up listening to. It’s about taking a well-deserved break.”

Most food trucks lined the outer edge of the Peace Quad and sold carnival treats like funnel cake, fried Oreos, blooming onion and kettle corn. Lot B, located across the Peace Quad, offered a few other vendors, including Here’s The Twist, an ice cream truck; Macarollin, which sold gourmet mac and cheese; and The Kitchen Counter, a local food truck company that recently opened a permanent location in Endicott.

Along the Admission Center’s sidewalk, festival-goers were invited to shop at the student flea market — a recurring event SAPB hosts throughout the year. This Spring Fling, many stalls featured handmade items like crocheted animals and jewelry, as well as vintage clothing and baked goods.

Attendees could also check out the various on-campus clubs and organizations that tabled on the Old Dickinson Quad.

“As an attendee, I love feeling like a kid again,” Jackie Palmer, the SAPB’s vice festivals chair and a junior majoring in environmental studies, wrote in an email. “To go around a festival like this one and eat different food and go on rides and have a reason to be outside with my friends doing something fun. As someone organizing this event, my favorite part is seeing it all come together, working with Andrea has been so great and it’s been so fun to be making these big decisions about the theme and vendors and rides and layout and so much more.”

Throughout the afternoon, dance groups such as Binghamton University Dance Team, Paradox, MODA and the Binghamton Ballroom Dance Association performed near the MarketPlace steps.

Initially, Binghamton Sound, Stage and Lighting were supposed to provide equipment for live performances on the Peace Quad, but in an email to the bands the night before, it expressed that due to the weather conditions, it was unable to offer its services. However, Hazel Thurman, vocalist for Anyone But Her — one of the performers at the festival — and a sophomore double-majoring in biology and theatre, took the initiative to find a way for the bands to play.

Thurman made a group chat with all of the bands, and on the morning of the festival, they all brought and shared gear. She took charge of the setup, and with help from the bands, the performances were able to continue.

Other bands that played included Ramblers, LARJ, Heavy Weather and The Dimension Gnomes — the latter three being contestants in February’s Battle of the Bands.

Despite the rain and looming clouds, the annual Spring Fling concert proved that a little weather couldn’t stop the spirit of the event. After the festival portion, there was the highly anticipated concert. Held in Lot 1, this free concert opened with the student-run band Stuck In Place.

Stuck In Place included Aiden Hunt on bass and vocals, Elijah Van Shephard on drums, Maddox Thornton, one of the guitarists and vocalists and a sophomore majoring in English, and Sawyer Gibson, the band’s guitarist and a sophomore majoring in history.

Starting with an unreleased song “Who The Hell is Ed Diamond?,” Stuck in Place played an original setlist including their songs “Grocery Outlet, Bargain Market,” “New (Unreleased),” “36,” “Shattered,” “Kill Him (Unreleased),” “Just Make it to Wednesday (Unreleased),” “Weird Jesus Girl,” and “On The Shelf.”

“Saturday was a very humbling experience, and it was an honor to have been the opener for this year’s Spring Fling,” Stuck In Place wrote in an email. “To be on the same bill as someone with the track record and notoriety as A Boogie is something we will always look back on as one of the fondest memories in our group’s time together thus far. As a band who have grown up in this city, in this scene, and with the people we had the pleasure of getting to meet and grow alongside with over the past number of years, this event was symbolic of not just our hard work and dedication, but the Binghamton punk rock scene as a whole.”

The band also expressed gratitude to be part of this year’s concert, extending appreciation to all the audience members who braved the rain to experience their performance.

“We didn’t come into this show with any expectations or inhibitions about what type of response we would end up receiving for the audience,” they continued. “But for them to have showed up early, and end up sticking it out with us in the pouring rain, and do it while dancing and smiling and laughing and having a good time is more than we could have ever asked for. We feel eternally grateful to have reached that many people with our performance.”

Following the student opener, DJ Ominaya preceded the headlining act, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, with an electric and nostalgic set.

A Boogie Wit da Hoodie is an American rapper, singer and songwriter from Highbridge in the Bronx, New York City. The rapper performed a full set including several of his most popular hits, such as “Drowning (feat. Kodak Black),” “Swervin (feat. 6ix9ine)” and “Look Back at It.”

“A Boogie has been the most requested artist from students year after year,” Madison Perdue, SAPB’s vice concert chair and a junior majoring in business administration, wrote. “After Gunna’s iconic Spring Concert performance in 2022, students have anticipated the announcement of the Spring’s headliner, holding SAPB to very high standards. Thanks to student’s attendance at our ticketed Fall Concert with NLE Choppa and Baby Tate, we were able to use that profit in securing A Boogie this year. SAPB is all about ensuring students’ voices are heard, so choosing A Boogie as the headliner was a no brainer.”

DJ Ominaya played a major role in engaging the students with songs, prompting chants, call-and-response moments and shoutouts to the crowd. Two backup dancers on stage added choreography and movement that complemented A Boogie’s performance. Bright, flashing stage lights lit up the stage, even as the rain continued to fall.

A Boogie moved actively across the stage, frequently pointing to different sections of the crowd and encouraging fans to sing along. The audience remained highly responsive throughout, singing back lyrics, raising their phones and dancing.

“A free concert following the Spring Fling festival creates the perfect opportunity to celebrate the year, listen to some good music, and connect with our peers,” Ryan Miller, SAPB’s concert chair and a senior majoring in English, wrote in an email. “The purpose of the concert is always just to provide students with the best experience possible to end the year!”

“As the semester comes to a close and students begin to prepare for finals, I hope students release some stress, have a good time, and enjoy the music of one of our favorite artists,” she continued. “The concert is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the end of the semester and have some fun with friends.”

Palmer explained what she hopes attendees took away from this year’s Spring Fling.

“I hope that students get that ‘final break’ before finals, one of the last weekends to enjoy themselves, a chance to go on rides with their friends and maybe feel like a kid again,” Palmer wrote. “I hope that our students tabling get a last hurrah with their org and maybe get some new members, that the student flea gets a chance to sell their merch and connect with the community, and that our volunteers get a chance to have fun and make a difference for the biggest event of the year. I hope that everyone involved has a good time and makes some memories.”

Editor’s Note (5/5): A previous version of this article used incorrect pronouns for SAPB’s concert chair. It has been updated with the correct pronouns. Pipe Dream regrets the error.

DeGregorio is a lecturer and associate director of creative writing at Binghamton University. She received a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Maryland, a Master of Fine Arts from CUNY Hunter College and a Ph.D. in English from BU.

“Jen’s first book, What to Wear Out, is a story in poems about a young woman who carries the weight of many women,” Tina Chang, director of the Creative Writing Program, wrote in an email. “Her female speaker copes with abuse, societal demands, and the weight of being a moral and cognizant human in a complex world. Her speaker is a daughter, partner, friend and we follow this main character as she moves from adolescence into adulthood, recounting the violence with which women encounter, and singing the praise song of her own survival.”

The book launch began with an introduction from Leslie Heywood, professor of English at BU and DeGregorio’s dissertation adviser as she acquired her Ph.D. Many poems included in the book were written during DeGregorio’s time at the University.

“It’s the perfect note for our very, very post-extracted consumer culture trying to hold on to its deadly grasp on our lives,” Heywood said. “The book really fits all the notes on that, and I was happy to see that some of the poems in the book I first saw in my own graduate poetry workshop.”

DeGregorio went on to read a selection of poems from her book, including “Mask,” “Landlines,” “All Us Jens” and “Tourist Traps.”

“Mask,” which consists of 12 individual parts, reflected the impact of the pandemic and the concept of endings. DeGregorio began by reading the book’s epigraph, a quote from Arundhati Roy, an award-winning Indian author who wrote an essay about the pandemic published in the Financial Times.

“’Historically, pandemics have forced humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew,’” DeGregorio read. “’This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next.’”

“Mask” echoed this sentiment, describing the complete transformation of normal life and the heartbreak of having to retreat indoors.

“Landlines,” the second poem, commented on the old giving way for the new. In the poem, the narrator calls her childhood home, receiving no response. The work allowed the audience to envision the phone ringing in an empty space with no one to pick it up, conveying a sense of nostalgia and loneliness.

“All Us Jens” described the experience of growing up as a woman under the patriarchy. DeGregorio opened by sharing that the name “Jennifer” was the most popular name for baby girls in the United States from 1970 to 1984, and she uses the name in the poem to represent American women.

The final poem, “Tourist Traps,” tells a love story culminating in a couple’s trip to Salem. It referenced the 2023 tragedy of the Titan submersible disaster, where a submersible operated by the company OceanGate imploded and killed all five passengers.

The poem then segued into the story of where the narrator was when she heard the news, on vacation with her partner in Salem. She contrasted tales of billionaire indulgence with her own life and inner thoughts. The poem easily complemented the rest of the work, as each piece told a tumultuous tale of the narrator’s life while connecting to contemporary global problems.

The event continued with a Q&A moderated by Chang. During this portion, DeGregorio and Chang discussed the writing process, the book’s cultural implications — like how it references recent events, such as the pandemic and various cultural moments — and how the work connected each poem to moments in the poet’s life.

The audience listened attentively as DeGregorio recounted the long history of publishing her work. She shared her journey of creating her collection of poems and the struggles along the way, like finding a publisher. After pulling the draft from her original publisher, she kept working on her piece and resubmitted it.

“Jen is a Binghamton alum success story because her narrative is so relatable and real,” Chang wrote. “After she graduated with her doctorate degree, she struggled to find her place, struggled to find a job, struggled to find the right home for her creative work. None of it was easy but she persisted in writing poems, never backing down from hardship or challenge.”

DeGregorio ended the Q&A by explaining the competitive nature of writing, which can be discouraging for new writers. Even after feeling rejected, she spoke about showing resilience through tough events and eventually finding success through perseverance and hard work.

“As someone who’s gotten a lot of rejection letters in the last eight months, it’s really encouraging whenever you hear someone with a success story, especially one that took that long,” Elaine Braunshweiger, audience member and a sophomore double-majoring in English and comparative literature, said. “And as someone who wants to chase down a Ph.D., it’s really encouraging to hear that trajectory and how it played out for her in this beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful event.”

DeGregorio acts as a mentor and teacher to many students at BU. She offered advice to students looking to write and publish their own work.

“Read more than you write,” DeGregorio wrote. “Listen more than you talk. Write as often as you can. Enjoy the process. Find other writers to be in community with. If you want to publish your writing, don’t let rejection get you down (for long, anyway). Keep the faith.”

Held every semester, Palabras is an art showcase and open mic night where students can perform their creative work. This semester’s event was emceed by Isabella Florentino, LASU’s La Voz coordinator and junior majoring in business administration.

Inspired by the iconic Nuyorican Poets Café of New York City’s Lower East Side — a cornerstone for poetry, music and the arts since 1973 — Palabras brought that creative spirit to Binghamton University. Donna Villa, LASU’s president and a senior double-majoring in political science and history, elaborated on the event’s inclusiveness.

“Palabras, which is hosted biannually, is an open mic event inspired by the Nuyorican Cafe in NYC,” Villa wrote in an email. “Like the cafe, we aim to provide a free space for students of color to perform and watch art in all forms. We strive to create solidarity and a community through every event we host and Palabras is art focused which [has] always been a core element to LASU.”

The event started at 8:30 p.m. in the University Union’s Underground Lounge and featured singer Ezequiel Pujols, a Dominican artist from the Bronx, as the keynote speaker. He was invited to perform by the LASU E-Board, which said it admired his music and felt his message aligned with the goals of Palabras.

The event was an all-inclusive showcase, offering a space for people of color to express themselves through art and storytelling. Free refreshments were provided to attendees, creating a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere.

Florentino interviewed Pujols for around an hour, discussing his music career, creative process and the challenges of songwriting and being inspired. Pujols offered thoughtful advice and reflected on his growth as an artist to the audience.

During the event, several people practiced their chosen art forms on stage, including Pujols, who sang a selection of bachata covers and original songs for the audience.

“It was amazing having Ezequiel Pujols for the event as he brought such great insight for aspiring artists,” Villa wrote in an email. “He’s a young up and coming artist from the Bronx and our executive board has listened to his music before so it was an honor to interview him.”

Pujols performed pieces that blended Spanish and English lyrics, showcasing his bilingual artistry and adding a personal, cultural layer to his music.

Some of Pujols’s most popular tracks include “Who Can Blame Her,” which has amassed over 10 million streams on Spotify and “Every Night,” which has over 1.3 million streams. With 418,536 monthly listeners as of May, he has built an impressive following as an emerging verified artist.

Some highlights of the evening included an engaging presentation by Jayden Perez, the LASU secretary and junior majoring in psychology, where he ranked various Dominican dishes. Ashley Mera, the organization’s historian and a senior majoring in economics, followed with a heartfelt rendition of “I See the Light” from Disney’s “Tangled,” adding even more vocal talent to the event.

The event saw a strong turnout, which members of other organizations in attendance attributed to the open, inviting atmosphere. The energy in the room was supportive and uplifting, creating a sense of community transcending organizational boundaries. Palabras proved to be more than just a showcase — it was a safe space for expression and connection, encouraging creativity and cultural pride while allowing anyone who felt inspired to step up to the mic and perform.

“My favorite part was when multiple [general body] members performed their art of choice,” Villa wrote in an email. “I love to see all the talent and see how this space provides them with a stage to showcase their talents.”

Pujols echoed this sentiment, sharing how LASU’s Palabras allowed him to reflect upon his artistry while engaging with other aspiring creatives.

“I absolutely loved my experience at Binghamton’s PALABRAS event,” Pujols wrote. “My goal was really to encourage every artist and even non-artist in the room to go after whatever they’re passionate about. In the end, I found myself inspired by everyone else. It was amazing getting to see some students share some of their own talents and interests.”

The room was filled with spring-colored pink and red decorations. A replica of the Eiffel Tower wrapped in fairy lights shadowed the corner of the space, and golden balloons spelling “Welcome to Paris” hung from the walls. Falling rose petals were projected onto the wall, adding to the romantic ambience of the event. Speakers played light hip-hop and French music.

“Pink Brunch is our annual banquet that we hold during the spring semester with the aim to bring women on campus together in order to empower, inspire, and celebrate one another,” Gianna Peña, president of Pretty Girls Sweat and a senior majoring in psychology, wrote in an email. “It started virtually during the spring 2021 semester as a way to come together as a community after facing the hardship of the pandemic, while still honoring the organization’s purpose and mission.”

Tables were adorned with white and gold plates, bouquets of flowers and accompanying candles to set the Parisian mood. Other Eiffel Tower decor, like photographs and miniature figures, embellished the room, and each table had framed photos of the E-Board members from the semester at their different events. This reminded guests of the purpose of Pink Brunch — a celebration of Pretty Girls Sweat’s accomplishments throughout the year.

The event began with introductions from the brunch’s co-hosts, Najalie Medina, a senior majoring in nursing, and Precious James, a sophomore at SUNY Oswego majoring in criminal justice. They welcomed the guests and encouraged them to fill out their brunch menus.

The co-hosts then introduced Karen A. Jones, the vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion and faculty advisor for the organization, to give a speech. She shared her insights into building a healthy lifestyle, offering advice for self-preservation and improvement by encouraging students to open a savings account, disengage with social media and live their lives to the fullest.

“Be flexible,” Jones said. “Life will be life, and plans will not always work out as you expect. So dare to continue knowing that you have the strength, the endurance and the fortitude to continue.”

Guests had a wide range of culinary selections, from croissant sandwiches and vanilla pancakes with fried chicken to tiramisu and cinnamon rolls. Food was catered by Tiff’s Treats, an independent business started by Tiffany Ajijola, the vice president of Pretty Girls Sweat and a senior majoring in biology. Inspired by her family and friends’ encouragement to pursue baking, Ajijola decided to begin her business.

“They loved it and kept telling me I should share it with more people,” Ajijola wrote in an email. “Eventually, I decided to take the leap and turn my passion into something bigger. My goal is to continue growing Tiff’s Treats into a strong local brand, expand my menu with even more unique treats, and eventually open a small bakery café all while pursuing my medical career.”

Conversation cards were placed around each table, containing questions aimed at sparking meaningful conversation among strangers. Questions ranged from “What is your unpopular opinion?” to “What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?”

Pink Brunch is Pretty Girls Sweat’s biggest event of the year and strives to excite guests. This year’s brunch steered away from its usual style and aimed for new heights with its theme.

“The process of coordinating Pink Brunch was definitely very demanding,” Madison Penn, co-events coordinator and a sophomore majoring in nursing, wrote in an email. “There were various components to think about such as decorations and food. Our Eboard decided on a Paris-themed event but I wanted to switch it up for this event. We usually incorporate a lot of pink and bright colors into our events but I wanted this one to give off a more elegant and mature vibe.”

Following easy conversation and mingling, guests were invited to play an interactive game. Two volunteers were called on stage and asked to list musical artists starting with A to Z, and the slowest to answer lost.

After the games was an award show, where awards were given to attendees, organizations and Pretty Girls Sweat members who played integral roles in events throughout the year. Ranging from Inclusive Leader and Biggest Inspiration to Muscle Mommy, each award highlighted the women that have shaped the organization.

“What makes this year’s Pink Brunch different is that we opened it up to both men and women for the first time, creating a more inclusive environment while still keeping the spotlight on honoring women’s achievements,” Ajijola wrote in an email. “It was a celebration for all to attend, but the awards remained focused on uplifting and recognizing the incredible women in our community.”

As the afternoon came to a close, the E-Board presented guests with a slideshow of memories and events from this year, as this marked Pretty Girls Sweat’s final event of the semester. The photos and videos were a heartwarming reminder of what the organization stands for and what they want audiences to remember after the event.

“We want audiences to leave feeling inspired, empowered, and reminded of the importance of celebrating women’s achievements,“ Ajijola wrote. “We hope everyone, regardless of gender, walks away understanding the power of community, recognition, and support in helping women continue to thrive and break barriers.”

Directed by Rachel Pasternack, a senior majoring in history, the musical will be held in the Hinman Commons and performed in an intimate setting. The production features a large ensemble, meaning most of the cast is almost always on stage.

“Everyone is on stage all the time, and everyone’s collaborating to bring it to life,” Bunny Churgel, the performer for Alice and a sophomore majoring in musical theatre, said. “And it’s something that’s become really beautiful.”

The reimagined version of “Alice in Wonderland” takes place in 1940s England during the London Blitz, a series of devastating bombings over England during World War II. Alice, a 15-year-old girl, her friend Alfred and others hiding from the attack take shelter from constant bombs and alarms in an abandoned train tunnel.

Meanwhile, Alfred suffers from tuberculosis and is close to death. Alice begs to read him a story, which she believes will keep him alive longer. But while Alice is in their makeshift bunker, her storybook is destroyed. She believes that she can tell the story to Alfred through what she knows by heart.

“Alice by Heart” plays with the delicate balance between imagination and reality. Playful scenes set in Wonderland are interrupted by the sounds of bombs dropping overhead, shattering the characters’ fantasies they use to escape the current tragedy.

“Alice’s family has died, and Alfred has tuberculosis, and Alice is kind of a little bit in denial of the fact that he’s dying,” Samantha Herschmann, a fourth-year master’s student studying social work, said.

Herschmann played two roles in the show: the Queen of Hearts and the Red Cross nurse. Like Herschmann, most cast members played a dual role, acting as both a character in the bunker and the fantastical version of themselves in Wonderland.

While eccentric, these versions of the characters reflect who they are at their core. A war veteran with PTSD doubles as the Mad Hatter, referencing how they have both been driven mad. Alfred is able to be a healthy, playful version of himself in the form of the White Rabbit.

Scenes alternate seamlessly between Wonderland and the bunker. The versions of the characters in Wonderland are, at times, aware of the fact they are losing their grasp on reality, and Alice’s fear of losing Alfred to his illness is evident throughout.

“It’s really nice to look at, but also is sparking deeper discussions of, ‘Are we allowed to ignore what’s going on in painful times, like Alice does?’” Pasternack said.

The musical features a live pit orchestra with guitar and drums, offering a contemporary feel that breaks away from the typical musical theater style. In some musical numbers, characters used their imagination and whimsy, expressing their hope about escaping their current situation. Yet others are earnest, sad and fearful, as the characters fear for their lives and Alice mourns the looming loss of Alfred.

“It definitely feels like musical theater with a lot of pop-rock elements,” Churgel said. “Every single song is just a bop.”

Ensemble shows like “Alice by Heart” require significant coordination, organization and hard work. Pasternack, who is graduating soon, shared what the show means to them.

“Originally, I was a stage manager in HPC, and then for another production, I was assistant director and now I’m a director,” they said. “It’s really been great to give back to HPC, because it’s a club that gave me so much, especially emotionally.”

HPC offers a community for students interested in any kind of theater. Throughout the year, the production company performs plays, one- and two-act musicals and a production of Binghamton Night Live every semester. Putting on these productions allows cast and crew to build community while working toward a common goal of putting on the best show possible.

“Audiences should definitely expect a good time with a little sprinkle of heartbreaking realness, whimsy, good music and just a generally engaging and beautiful story,” Churgel said.

Blue metallic fringe lined the room and the ambience was set with purple and blue lights reminiscent of the sea. The entrance was lined with clothing pieces from previous shows, and paintings by student artists were displayed in an intimate gallery section. The Binghamton Business Fashion Society provided mocktails for the audience to sip on while enjoying the show.

“The name of the show, Currents, was derived from the ocean and the various layers in it, ranging from surface-level interaction to the more intricate, complex aspects of life in the ocean,” Judd Espejo, RENA’s vice president and a junior majoring in business administration, wrote. “The show was divided into three acts, with each act presenting different facets of ocean life and human interaction with water.”

The fashion show was organized in a U-shaped formation, with seating areas lining the walls. Models walked through the center of the space and stopped to perform a series of editorial poses. Each outfit was created with upcycled materials and secondhand pieces, tying each look together with a criticism of human exploitation of nature.

Espejo was also the evening’s DJ. He performed a live mix that set the vibe for each act.

“[Espejo] did such a great job of aligning songs to the thematic storyline I had crafted, and seeing it all come together was just incredible,” Devin Verdugo, the president of RENA and a senior double-majoring in art and design and art history, wrote. “The set hit a perfect balance of being immersive for models and engaging for the audience, all while feeling consistent with the theme.”

Models walked down the Mandela Room one by one, dressed in unique pieces ranging from tattered outfits to elaborate accessories like ocean-inspired jewelry and repurposed everyday items. Designers expressed their artistic vision through vibrant and expressive makeup as part of their models’ looks.

The first act of the show, themed “Beach Party,” brought to life beach iconography like waves, seaweed and sea foam.

“Act 1 (Beach Party) represents our shallow and easy-going connection to the sea,” Espejo wrote. “The imagery used here is bright and carefree and includes traditional beach and aquatic life metaphors such as lifeguards, sailors, and jellyfish. Obsessiveness regarding body oil, excessive blushing, and sun-damaged skin serves as a metaphor for the idealized way of viewing beach life and beauty standards often associated with it.”

The first model of the night walked the runway in a sleek, modern lifeguard uniform, symbolizing an everyday connection to water safety and recreation.

Another model’s look started with a distressed white sweater that emulated a rough, handmade feel. The outfit also incorporated blue fabric with seashell designs. Swatches of teal cloth, with intricate seashell designs carefully sewn on, were draped over the tattered white top. His accessories included earrings made from fishing lures and other miscellaneous items that are often lost at sea.

Joanne Ng, the event coordinator of RENA magazine and a junior majoring in psychology, explained the process behind organizing the fashion show.

“We have an incredible student design team led by our President and Head of Production Devin, who is absolutely amazing,” Ng wrote. “As for the event itself, this is what we’ve been working towards the entire year, from brainstorming themes, looks, creating moodboards, booking rooms, making itineraries, and scheduling model practices.”

“Seeing it all come together at the end with the carousel where the models are walking one after another left me in awe thinking ‘Oh wow we really made this happen,’” she added.

The following act developed the show’s storyline as the audience was immersed in the intensity of an ocean storm. Themed “Fisherman’s Story,” models wore pieces inspired by fishermen’s wear and the darkness of the ocean.

“Act 2 (Fisherman’s Story) turns into a darker version, in which the abuse of the ocean by mankind is told through a fisherman trapped during a storm,” Espejo wrote. “Act 2 uses black, dramatic material, with glances that call upon such natural phenomena as hurricanes and tidal waves to represent the consequences of mankind’s actions on the planet.”

Sebastian Bucknor, the modeling director and a junior double-majoring in business administration and art and design, introduced the concept with a fisherman-inspired look as he paved the way for following models in the act.

“I have some cowboy boots on,” Bucknor said. “Did a shirt, because we’re resourceful and sustainable. Two shirts into a skirt, I have a little vest to represent a formality, I have a fisherman hat. I’m originally from Ghana, West Africa, and we have a hat that the fishermen wear. And so we have a hat that’s big, and then they use that to fish.”

The final act, “The Underbelly,” traversed further beneath the surface of the ocean to the darkest depths of the seafloor. Espejo explained the thematic significance of this portion of the show, conveyed through a series of darker, abstract pieces inspired by sunken treasure, pirates and pearls.

“The appearances are ominous and threatening, revealing the deep-sea animals and the deep-seated dangers beneath the waves,” Espejo wrote. “The act also delves into the problem of environmental degradation, using the use of plastic and torn fabrics to symbolize the destructive effects of human activities on the oceans.”

Through these diverse designs, the show sparked conversations about sustainability, culture and environmental responsibility, which all flow back to the powerful force that connects us — water.

After months of planning and passion, RENA Magazine’s fashion show proved that student-led creativity has no limits. With “Currents” leaving a lasting impression, this growing tradition is sure to keep inspiring for years to come.

“I hope everybody is inspired to get creative with their clothing, whether that manifests in learning how to make or alter clothes, or just dressing in what makes you feel your best,” Verdugo wrote. “Fashion as self expression has been so important to me for the past couple years, and I think everybody could benefit from just giving it a try. To anybody feeling extra bold, come try out for Rena next year!”

Founded in 1975, the Food Co-op has grown into a not-so-hidden, hidden gem among the University community. A cafe and grocery store tucked in the corner of the Union Undergrounds, the co-op serves specialty drinks and vegan, organic meals crafted from locally sourced ingredients from around New York’s Southern Tier.

With an emphasis on sustainability, the team makes the most seasonal items and current inventory with an alternating weekly menu curated by the kitchen manager and in-house cooks. Ashley Dua, the co-op’s current general manager and a senior majoring in political science in the 4+1 Degree Program for a master’s in genocide and mass atrocity prevention, described the intention behind the spring event.

“Spring Brunch is where the co-op gets to show off what we can do with our food and the talent of our cooks and volunteers,” Dua wrote in an email. “Within 24 hours, the co-op turns into a makeshift restaurant, with servers, line cooks, and food runners. The cooks have creative freedom over things they cannot typically cook for our weekday lunches, and we have fun in the front of the house with spring decor and creating a nice ambience for those who buy tickets.”

“We hope that alumni who visited and other students could enjoy the work we put in for good food and a good vibe,” she added.

In an open seating plan accommodating dozens, guests began to enter at 11 a.m. to sit at tables draped in pastel and patterned tablecloths. Each seat was marked with personalized name cards and ceramic mugs of chocolate raspberry and Guatemalan dark roast drip coffee or glasses filled with citrusy non-alcoholic mimosas awaiting them. Customers placed orders before the event and for a total of $20, the menu included a three-course spread with appetizers, entrees, dessert and drinks.

Daria Magill, the co-op’s head chef and a sophomore majoring in global public health, took the lead in preparing the afternoon’s dishes.

“We just wanted to do something kind of spring-forward, have a brunch that included things that everyone might like and a lot of floral flavors,” Magill said. “Berries are in season right now, so we definitely wanted to do something that focused on something berry. We wanted to do some more complex flavors, like the cardamom buns and lavender panna cotta.”

Appetizers included a choice of buttery artisan avocado toast or tender stuffed mushrooms, loaded with finely shaved carrots, green onion and breadcrumbs offering a subtle crunch against the springy caps. For the entrees, both sweet and savory selections were available — an earthy spinach mushroom tofu scramble or cream cheese-stuffed French toast with mixed berries and an optional addition of rich maple syrup, a crowd favorite that was dense without being too overpowering.

Sides included a mixed spring greens salad with a refreshing vinaigrette dressing, bright and herby roasted lemon rosemary potatoes and homemade focaccia bread.

Following their main courses, many attendees selected the lavender panna cotta for dessert — a smooth and custard-like dish aromatized with fragrant floral notes and delicate petals sprinkled over it. Another option was the cardamom buns, indulgent and pillowy with a flavor and texture profile similar to a cinnamon bun.

Throughout the brunch, guests chatted amicably among themselves and raved about their food as servers frequently checked in. Jazz music infused the atmosphere with comforting warmth.

“Being General Manager this year has only propelled my love for the space, since I have seen how much work it has taken over the past 50 years to keep it running, and am inspired by the work from all the students before me,” wrote Dua, who first joined the co-op as a freshman. “If you are looking for a place to feel welcome and connected, the co-op has an energy unlike any other place on campus. It will be a tough place to say goodbye to in the coming month!”

Magill said that the Food Co-op has provided her with a receptive community enthusiastic to taste what she creates in the kitchen.

“It’s been one of the most enlightening and fun experiences of my life,” McGill said. “Food is my love language, and I’ve been cooking since I was very little with my family, so being able to convey that with my friends and people I’ve met here has been so, so wonderful.”

“The community here is very, very strong, and everyone just loves what they do and it makes it not feel like a job,” she continued. “I would do it for my whole entire life if I could.”

Administrators, directors, professors and students gave remarks at the event. Attendees served themselves food from a buffet — house salad, macaroni salad, marinated chicken, stuffed peppers with black beans and rice and potatoes — and situated themselves at their tables.

Nick Martin, associate director of the Q Center; Leonel Diaz Jr., the center’s director for intercultural affairs; and Matthew Winston Jr., executive director for alumni engagement, gave opening remarks.

“Please, going forward, continue to gather in these types of spaces,” Martin said during the welcome address. “Continue to create these types of spaces. Because this is a two-hour celebration, but for you, going forward, you can continue to create these spaces for others that need these spaces.”

“That goes for everybody — if you’re graduating, if you’re here for another couple years, continue to create these spaces, because we need them now more than ever,” he continued.

Each table was adorned with a purple tablecloth, a centerpiece of lavender flowers and pouches of dried lavender for attendees to take home. Eddie Stakelum, a second-year master’s student studying student affairs administration and an LGBTQ+ Living Community graduate assistant, gave the graduate address. He shared his journey as a queer individual from high school to college and the importance of finding a community.

“Institutions of higher education and spaces like the Q Center and the LGBTQ Living Community are super important because it allows for people to find themselves,” Stakelum said. “The world can oftentimes feel very scary and overwhelming, but by knowing who you are and having people around you that will love and support you — that will help you weather the storm.”

Jade Doswell, assistant director for diversity, equity and inclusion for Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science, gave the keynote address. She shared her story as a lesbian who was raised Southern Baptist and a preacher’s child, and expressed the importance of staying true to yourself, regardless of what other people say or how current legislation affects the LGBTQ+ community.

A unique aspect of Lavender Celebration is the Pride Awards, where graduating students and faculty members are nominated based on their contributions to the University’s queer community. The awards included the OUTstanding Grad Award; Activism Award; “Sunshine” Award; Community Service Award; and Faculty/Staff Advocacy in Action Award. One award was given to a nominee from each category, along with a trophy.

Emily Leighton, president of Out in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and a senior majoring in mathematics, received the “Sunshine” Award. Sharing her excitement at receiving the award, she stressed the significance of the celebration and the work of LGBTQ+ individuals.

“It’s honestly so important that we’re still here and we’re still fighting for everything,” Leighton said. “Every day, every second that we are truly ourselves is honestly so important, and is just a good old honest fight for our lives. Just being me, using different pronouns and being in a space with them — it’s honestly so important that people like me continue to do the work that they are doing in this community.”

Following the Pride Awards was the graduate cording procession. Each graduate was announced and invited to the stage, where they received a rainbow cord to wear at their commencement ceremonies in May. Jason Tran, a graduate at the ceremony and a third-year master’s student studying public administration and social work, said it was important to uphold LGBTQ+ spaces.

“Sometimes being queer is kind of difficult with our current administration and everything,” Tran said. “And just being in a space with everyone, to actually celebrate our own identities but also our accomplishments, is so needed on this campus.”

Nine pieces of artwork were selected from the museum’s archives as part of a collaboration with the UDiversity Educational Institute. All of the works explore the human condition across various perspectives. Richard Quiles ‘24, UDiversity’s coordinator for diversity education and a second-year master’s student studying human rights, said planning for the showcase took about two months.

“As you move through this space, we invite you to embrace the understanding that our experiences shape how we interpret the world around us — and that no two perspectives are the same,” an exhibit booklet read. “What is true or meaningful for one person may look different to another, and that diversity is something to be honored.”

“This gallery is a space for curiosity, connection, and care,” it continued.

Quiles said inspiration for the pop-up exhibit came while working with Jessica Petrylak, the museum’s art preparator and communications assistant, to highlight diverse identities and life perspectives through art. To commemorate Black History Month, Petrylak and Quiles recorded a video honoring the influential work of Ed Wilson, an African American sculptor who founded the University’s studio art program and worked for decades until his death in 1996.

They believed the exhibit would be the best way to commemorate April, designated Celebrate Diversity Month since 2004. Seven University faculty and staff chose the displayed works, each taking inspiration from their unique life perspectives during selection. A range of stylistic mediums were featured, from photography to oil-based painting.

“What made it especially meaningful was hearing from people from all across campus about why they chose each piece,” said Jennifer Smith, the University’s coordinator of restorative practices. “It added such a personal touch — each work of art wasn’t just visually striking, but also carried deep meaning for someone in our community.”

Quiles selected an etching, “The Buzzing of the Blue Guitar,” which stood on an easel at the Kenneth Lindsay Study Room’s entrance. Created in 1977 by English artist David Hockney, the piece was inspired by a poem written decades before about “a man that plays a blue guitar.” With its geometric outlines and abstract positioning, Quiles wrote, “there doesn’t seem to be a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to see it — it invites you to bring your own experiences, your own lens.”

He gave a personal interpretation of the piece, saying the “buzzing” sound of the guitar represented “the constant hum of being gay.” While Quiles initially struggled with this identity at a younger age, he eventually saw “the buzzing not as a burden, but as part of my rhythm.”

Quiles also pointed to an untitled work by John Copoulos, an LGBTQ artist, framed in the corner, as another piece that personally spoke to him. It depicts two men intimately embracing in a pool of water, shining a light on the personal struggles felt by the gay community during the AIDS epidemic.

Other exhibit works explore identity through the lens of race and gender. One painting, “And Justice for All,” provided a critical commentary on how mass incarceration affects the lives of African Americans. Another acrylic work by Ben Johnson, “The Rise and Fall of the 3rd Stream,” criticizes how Western media portrays the lives of Black women.

Two additional works by Black artists were selected by Quiles and Diane Butler, the museum director: Jacob Lawrence’s 1990 lithograph, “Memorabilia,” and a sketch created by Wilson for one of his sculptures, “Minority Man.”

The pop-up exhibit will be open until April 30.

“In times of uncertainty, art has the power to unite us,” the booklet read. “It allows us to express ourselves and explore our interpretations without the need for a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer.”

“Our hope is that this gallery helps spark new conversations, forge unexpected connections, and deepen our understanding of one another,” it finished.