Matt O’Connor: President/Editor-In-Chief
On Tuesday, September 29th. The Belonging for Asians Organization (B.A.O) held their second event of the semester themed around the Mid-Autumn festival (also known as the Moon Festival). Occurring on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar, the festival occurs when the moon is at its brightest. In celebration, B.A.O hosted a fun night filled with crafts and delicious food. While eating vegetable and chicken fried rice, attendants could customize their own keychains and fold their own origami.
Building off of the success of their Night Market, the members of B.A.O’s E-Board were excited to ring in the celebration. President Tess DeJesus ’28 had a goal to foster an event focused on inclusivity and creativity. “It’s about new beginnings and coming together. Which is why I decided to have a bunch of crafts so that people can eat and celebrate together.” Treasurer Sabrina Hong ’29 also shared a personal outlook on the event. “It symbolizes the traditions that we have in Asian culture and heritage, and it really gathers everybody to understand, explore and discover the meaning behind our culture and awareness.” Similarly, Vice President Saket Damle ’27 was pleased with the turnout of the event. “It’s always heartwarming to see so many people coming to our event, enjoying the food, making connections, and just having a great time together. It all means so much to me.”
Also in attendance was Merrimack Executive Pastry Chef Sean Pierce, who gave a speech and showcase behind how he made the mooncakes for the events and provided attendees with the recipe so that they could make them for themselves. With a community focus and an always inclusive environment, B.A.O continues to provide exciting events and a celebration of Asian culture all across campus.
