By Madison Lewis
The slogan for the annual Celebration of Lights, “We are one university” embodied the evening that highlighted identity-based clubs and organizations; a night that concluded with the Moore Library illuminated in a cascade of blue and white lights.
The Celebration of Lights is a 30-year tradition that encapsulates a variety of winter holidays, and students were able to educate audiences about the values and practices of their respective cultures.
Senior computer science major and Student Government Association President Moira Geiger commented about the significance of instituting cultural celebrations for diverse populations on campus.
“It’s such a great way to … highlight every different group we have on campus and give kind of like a spotlight to share not only what their club has been doing, but like their own culture … as a whole to the rest of the Rider community,” she said.
Attendees filed through the Cavalla Room doors and were greeted with a table in the middle of the room, donned with an assortment of cultural food, such as latkes, or potato pancakes and collard greens.
Each esteemed identity-based club and organization had a table with decorations, games and other materials that represented their holiday. The Muslim Student Association honored Ramadan, the Catholic Campus Ministry with Christmas, the Black Student Union with Kwanzaa, the Latin American Student Organization with Las Posadas and the Korean Culture Association encompassing Seollal.
Geiger emphasized that the student leaders spearheaded the planning of the event and how their organization and clubs were represented.
While attendees ate, mingled and visited the different tables, Darryl Mace, vice president of Community Engagement and Belonging, gave a speech that called for Rider to embrace community values.
“I’m asking you to live in this moment, step outside of your comfort zone, ask questions, suspend judgement,” he said. “Above all, let’s lean in, let’s laugh merrily and let’s learn with open hearts and open minds.”
Proceeding his heartfelt speech, Mace introduced the 2025 R Factor winner sophomore musical theater major Olivia Conti, who sang “Let It Go” from the movie “Frozen.”
After the performance, a representative of each identity-based club and organization had the opportunity to share the history and traditions of their culture, in addition to another musical performance.
Following the festivities, the attendees were asked to line up by the back exit and were handed a plastic candle.
The procession led to the front of the Moore Library where the Rider Pep Band was awaiting their cue. There was a countdown and the building lit up in festive lights, simultaneously, the iconic Rider hedge was illuminated in white lights.
Cassaundra Alicea, vice president of student affairs for SGA, had a hand in coordinating the event with the intention of creating a welcoming space.
“The whole idea is to allow every student to feel seen, to feel understood,” she said. “I think right now, in a time that’s been pretty tense, we really could use that foundation of understanding where other people come from. What makes them, them.”
Matt Cirola is circulation manager and a member of pep band, Cal Sutton is a news editor and a member of pep band and Journey New is a social media editor for The Rider News and a member of pep band and SGA. They had no part in the writing or editing of this story.