I think it’s fair to say that many of us have had our fill of winter this year. While much of this season has been rather mild, very heavy snowfall and absolutely frigid temperatures have sort of put a damper on things. However, even in times when the weather is less than ideal, we can still find ways to connect and have fun. On Saturday, January 27, the European Association — a new organization at Andrews — held a Winterfest in front of the campus center. The event was moderately attended, and was a nice way to stay warm and have fun in the middle of winter.
While there has been a European club at Andrews in the past, there hasn’t been an active association in recent years, until now! I got the chance to interview the vice president of the organization, Enzo Bacchiocchi (freshman, finance). When asked about the purpose of the event, Enzo said, “This event was our first big event as an organization… This event was to kind of let everybody know what we’re doing as a club. It’s basically European food, crafts, and music to give people a taste of European culture, all within a fun event like this.” I also asked Enzo what his goals for the organization were, to which he replied, “we hope to gain enough traction to be able to, as an organization, put on events, and be able to bring European culture, which hasn’t really been around a lot on campus… back to life.”
The event featured lots of food, including waffles, pretzels, and a fried potato dish, warm beverages, and a wide variety of music from regions like Scandinavia and Ireland. But the highlight of the event for many was the two plastic igloos that were a cozy shelter from the elements. These clear hemispheres, around twelve feet in diameter, were furnished with lots of comfy pillows and blankets with which people could relax. Each was also decorated with Christmas lights and featured a space heater. Many people took advantage of this opportunity to stay warm and hang out with friends. The event also featured a little live music — Marianne Kordas on the violin — and an ice sculptor who created beautiful pieces of art over the course of the night, drawing a crowd when he used flames to polish the finished product.
Attendees seemed to be pleased with the event. Joel Henry Saturne (junior, marketing) said, “it is a little cold, but it is cozy. The heaters are nice, the vibe is nice, the ambiance is nice, the lights are nice… I’m glad I came.” Reagan Westerman (sophomore, psychology) said, “I like this event. For their first event, it’s very nice… very well put together. And I really like the lights.” These exchanges happened huddled under a canopy, as it began to rain partially through the event. But thanks to the heaters, the lights, and the warm food, we remained very cozy. Overall, the European Association put on a very charming event that allowed its participants to stay warm, be fed, and experience a sliver of European culture. The Andrews student body can look forward to future events the European Association might have in the works, as we continue to celebrate our campus’ uniquely diverse community.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.