Entering the Year of the Sheep

John Vito d’Antonio-Bertagnolli

Saturday evening, NJIT’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) hosted their annual Chinese New Year celebration in the Campus Center Ballroom. The event was very well attended for a Saturday, having attracted well over two hundred and fifty graduate and undergraduate students from both NJIT and Rutgers Newark. Also in attendance were the presidents of other local CSSA chapters.

The evening began with a buffet of traditional Chinese dishes, which was then interspersed with musical and dance performances by club members. Of note was the presence of a dance team from Rutgers, whose performance mixed K-pop style dance moves with American music.

Small games throughout the evening gave guests a chance to have fun, and win calendars for the Year of the Sheep. Additionally, three rice cookers, a TV, and an iPad were raffled off to a few lucky winners.

Though the language of choice at the event was Mandarin, and non-Chinese students were few and far between, some ‘foreigners’ joined in the evening’s meal and activities, despite not being able to understand the language. It is a testament to the acceptance of diversity within the NJIT student population that this event was so successful.

CSSA hopes for promise and prosperity to Chinese and non-Chinese students alike in this Year of the Sheep.