On the evening of Feb. 6, Rockhurst University’s Asian American Student Union (AASU) hosted a vibrant Lunar New Year celebration in Arrupe Hall, bringing together students and community members for an evening of food, traditions and cultural appreciation.
The event began with an engaging presentation on the history and significance of the Lunar New Year, sharing popular traditions and ways to celebrate. While enjoying Chinese cuisine from Bo Lings, attendees had the opportunity to experience one of these famous celebrations: a captivating lion dance accompanied by rhythmic drumming. This performance is believed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits with its loud sounds and energetic movements. The performers, children and teenagers from a local Buddhist temple, maintain a connection to AASU through a former member who helped establish the relationship.
Following the performance, attendees participated in interactive activities, including Bingo, a Kahoot quiz and lantern painting. AASU also raffled off prizes such as a LEGO set and a Firestick.
The motivation behind the event combined education with fun.
“It’s kind of a mix of cultural education and fun. Definitely the educational aspect because a lot of people might not even know about Lunar New Year. We strive to educate, celebrate and allow the community to express itself,” senior AASU President Aadhya Chilakala said.
Chilakala went on to explain that AASU focused on incorporating meaningful activities that were culturally conscientious. Organizing the event required months of planning.
“It was kind of a lot because we had to prepare things like catering and trying to figure out how much food people would need. We also had to figure out marketing because we wanted people to show up,” said Chilakala.
Social media promotions and extra credit incentives for Buddhism classes helped attract attendees.
For senior member Luke Tsaur, who grew up celebrating Lunar New Year, the event was personally significant.
“This is kind of how I grew up. These are the traditions I celebrated. It’s my chance to share that with everybody,” he said.
He also shared more Lunar New Year traditions traditions such as wearing new clothes for a fresh start, eating long noodles for health and longevity and giving out red envelopes (hongbao) as symbols of good luck.
A common misconception about AASU is that membership is limited to Asian students, but both Chilakala and Tsaur stressed the club’s inclusivity.
“A lot of people think only Asian members can be part of the club, but that’s not the case. Our e-board isn’t even entirely Asian. We appreciate the culture, and that’s important,” said Chilakala.
“We don’t have that many Asians on campus in the first place, so we’re really just trying to get everybody’s support and open up cultural heritage to everyone,” said Tsaur.
The Lunar New Year celebration not only provided a platform for cultural exchange but also reinforced AASU’s mission to educate and bring people together. As AASU continues to grow, students can look forward to more engaging events, including an upcoming Squid Games-themed meeting, promising both fun and cultural enrichment.
