The Night Market was in full swing on Thursday, April 10 with students lined up to get a taste of culture. About 15 student cultural groups gathered on Fairfield Way in a collaboration between the Student Union Board of Governors (SUBOG) and Asian American Cultural Center (AsACC), giving out a variety of treats and activities.
The event was planned by Erica Wong, a sixth-semester political science and urban and community studies student and SUBOG’s Major Weekends Chair.
“What it consisted of was a variety of organizations within AsACC that signed up for the event. Then they decided to showcase whatever culture — dessert, jewelry, craft or anything that represented their culture or their organization — and they got to display and then show it to the UConn community,” Wong said.
The market was advertised to begin at 5 p.m. but lines to the tables were crowded prior to the start, causing multiple tables to sell out of snacks and drinks quickly.
Fiona Cheng, an eighth-semester student and co-president of the Vietnamese Student Association, represented her table at the market.
“We ran out so fast within the hour. We were serving a dessert called Chè Thái. It’s a really popular dessert,” said Cheng. “I think they told us to average around 300 [snacks], but obviously, we didn’t expect to sell out.”
Roshith Jagannathan, a fourth-semester student, gave out candy after Hindu Students Organization ran out of treats.
“We sold out in 20 minutes, but I found it amazing that campus loves the diversity,” Jagannathan said.
Some groups such as UConn Taekwondo opted to demonstrate themselves through activities. The group had volunteers attempt to break through wooden boards, challenging students passing by their table.
Students were happy to learn about different cultures and indulge in the activities, despite the long lines. Unnati Bhat, a fourth-semester economics and human rights student, stopped by to visit the market after seeing students line up at the tables.
“Being South Asian myself, I thought it would be fun to get treats that I know about, and just some yummy things,” Bhat said. “It’s a cool event whether, you’re Asian or not, to get cool food.”
Other students heard about the market online and showed up to meet new people from different cultures. Diego Reyes, a Latino and Latin American studies and human rights double major, said it was a fun way to spend some free time in a new community. “They’re handing out free food and it’s really nice to see a lot of their faces. It’s also pretty good food,” said Reyes.
Wong said the market is a first for SUBOG and was an overall success.
“This is something that is new and more unique than what we’ve done in the past,” Wong said. “People were already talking about next year and how they would do the things differently or how they’re excited for next year.”
The Night Market is one of the few events SUBOG has prepared for the rest of April, as the UConnic music festival and Spring Weekend approaches.