Chinese Student Association celebrates Lunar New Year with gala

By Claire Giannosa giannosa@grinnell.edu

The Chinese Student Association (CSA) hosted a gala featuring performances, music and traditional foods to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

“It is a very important festival that is celebrated by a lot of international students. It is an event that can make them feel more at home,” said CSA Vice President Jingyi Wang `25. “It is a great chance for other students who do not celebrate this festival to get to know our culture.”

This is the CSA’s first large event of the semester, and the second event of the academic year, as they held the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sep. 10, 2022. As a member of the CSA cabinet, historically run by second-year students, Wang said the gala is very important to her. “Yeah, it’s basically the last major event that the CSA cabinet is holding, because we’re gonna change our cabinet this semester, so I’m really excited for the event.”

The CSA collaborated with other student groups such as the Vietnamese Student Association and Asian American Association, as well as the Grinnell College

Office of Student Affairs, professors and students within the Chinese department at the College. When asked about working alongside the student affairs office to plan the gala, CSA President Sherry Ding `25 said, “It makes me feel a sense of belonging to the community because I have people to support my culture and help me celebrate my own identity.”

“I think working with the Chi-

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