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Student groups prepare to host Notre Dame Night Market
Alexandra Muck | Thursday, March 1, 2018
Students looking for a study break Thursday night can visit the Dahnke Family Ballroom in the Duncan Student Center from 7-9 p.m. for the Notre Dame Night Market. Hosted by the Notre Dame Taiwanese Student Association and cosponsored by the Multicultural Student Programs and Services, the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, among others, the night market brings together multiple cultural clubs for a night of entertainment, food and games.
As a change from past years, this year’s night market will feature booths from non-Asian American cultural clubs, such as the Caribbean Student Association of ND and Latino Student Alliance.
“By collaborating with these different clubs and departments, I’m trying to make it more open to the campus, more open to the Notre Dame community and more inclusive in general,” junior Isabel Chan, co-president of the Taiwanese Student Association, said.
Senior and Taiwanese Student Association co-president Kathrine Fetizanan said night markets are one of Taiwan’s “most inviting tourist attractions” and the club’s goal is to bring that to campus.
“We’re just basically trying to let people have a glimpse into what a night market could be,” she said. “ … The purpose is to have everyone included, make it all inclusive and have people not only see Taiwanese culture but also … try to look at different cultures and immerse themselves a little. It’s a cultural immersion experience.”
Students who attend the event will receive two tickets to use at the booths with the option to purchase additional tickets. Chan said five tickets will be $5 and 10 tickets will be $8. With these tickets, students can get food or play games at the booths.
The Japan Club will be making mochi and rice balls this year, senior and Japan Club vice president Billy Adler said.
Students can also play games at the booths to earn raffle tickets. The raffle prizes include snack baskets, an Echo Dot, headphones and gift cards.
Adler said the planning for the event includes logistical preparation as well as making the food.
“My favorite part is actually on the day of,” he said. “It’s always crazy two hours before the event’s starting. Everyone’s running around trying to get things set up. I actually really enjoy that.”
Fetizanan said she enjoys the event because it highlights a part of Taiwanese culture while allowing people to have fun.
“Night markets for me hold a really sentimental value because part of my family is Taiwanese,” she said. “It was a place not only for fun and social gathering; it was a place where our family could just be family. I really like that this night market gives people the opportunity to not only culturally immerse themselves, but also spend time with friends and just take a little break from life.”
Last year, about 150 students attended the night market, Chan said. This year, the planning committee is expecting about 300 people, which Fetizanan said is due to the new location.
“It’s in the Danhke ballroom, so we have a lot more space,” she said. “ … Because it’s bigger and there’s more clubs participating and there’s a lot more to do this year, we’re expecting a larger turnout.”
