Executive board members, resident assistants and any person on a committee can understand the difficulties in getting people to attend events. Most students are too caught up in their academic troubles to worry about upcoming events, particularly if the event costs a pretty penny. Additionally, there are usually numerous events that are going on on the same night, so rather than choosing to go to any one, people decide not to go to any of them √ÉØ√º√ç or is this only my irrational process of elimination?
Whatever the reason is for people not being present at events, it doesn’t change how much blood and sweat people put into creating them.
Japan Night, hosted by the Binghamton University Japanese Association, was refreshing; it was obvious to the audience how many people contributed and how much effort was put into it. The Japan Night T-shirts, the booths that held games and general information, and the hilarious performers √ÉØ√º√ç Binghamton Shock Boys definitely elicited gasps and hysterical laughter √ÉØ√º√ç were elaborate enough to suggest weeks of preparation and practice.
It was also surprising and pleasing to see many people from different cultures come to the event, even if the majority were Asian. Although some people may view these events as a way of dividing cultures because it’s supporting certain races, Asian events, such as Japan Night, are just ways to express and celebrate Asian cultures. (Also, who doesn’t love to see Binghamton Sound, Staging and Lighting in action?)
Another recent and popular event was Relay for Life, which was held the day before Japan Night. This American Cancer Society event was not as grand or outstanding as it was last year; however, it held memorable moments as well as significant participants. Without the volunteers handing out T-shirts and registering people, without the performers √ÉØ√º√ç how awesome was the Binghamton Bhangra Team? √ÉØ√º√ç and without the variety of clubs in attendance √ÉØ√º√ç Diverse Cultural Xcellence’s gaming system was a stud magnet √ÉØ√º√ç Relay for Life would have been incredibly dull.
Most of the people didn’t attend Relay for Life just to sleep in large tents in the Events Center or to frolic and mingle with greek life (maybe), but to take part in the remembrance ceremony. The highlight of the evening was when the Events Center plunged into darkness and the only things truly visible were the miniature lights that graced the bleachers. These bleachers held the names of those suffering from cancer and those who died from cancer; yet, it wasn’t that or the music or the speech that made the event worth going to, but the mass of people sitting, silent with their hearts open.
Although there were possibly hundreds of people there, everyone was hushed, sharing in the same sentiments.
Hence, attending events isn’t merely to support one’s friend or to support a cause, but to feel unified with the student body, to know that though everyone is different and though everyone is on various paths, there are common factors that can make one realize that no one is alone and that no one has to achieve things on their own.