 "Photo: Kaia Marie Balcos")
To celebrate the Chinese New Year and share Chinese culture with the Boston University community, members of the Woo Ching White Crane Chi Gung Institute performed a traditional lion dance for an audience of about 75 people at the Terrace Lounge in the George Sherman Union Friday night.
The dance is traditionally performed on the Chinese New Year, which began Sunday, to ward off evil spirits, according to Asian Student Union Advertising and Public Relations Coordinator Amy Wu, a College of Communication junior.
Sponsored by the ASU and complete with customary Chinese refreshments, the hour-long ceremony also included kung fu performances and a skit explaining the story behind the New Year celebration.
The celebration was just one of several hosted by the ASU throughout the semester. One of the ASU's main goals is "sharing culture among the community," according to ASU Secretary Chao Ye, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore.
To inform the BU community about Asian culture, the ASU hosts events, including sushi night and karaoke night, which appeal to people of all ethnicities, ASU President Karen Tam said.
"We try to talk to as many people as possible and target a mixed audience," the School of Management junior said.
The goal of sharing customs is common among BU cultural groups. Chinese Student Association President Keith Teo said the CSA has approximately 400 members.
"Our basic goal is to inform people about Chinese culture through exhibits and other events," he said.
This semester, the CSA's main project will be a Feb. 10 GSU exhibit of models and pictures displaying provincial life in China, according to Teo.
He said he is currently attempting to "re-make the image of the CSA" by re-focusing its goals. Teo said he hopes the CSA will concentrate on raising awareness of the issues affecting Chinese people today and bringing together people of all cultures.
"We want to bring people together," the College of Arts and Sciences senior said.
One way he said he hopes to do this is by collaborating with other cultural groups, including the Hong Kong Student Association and the Japanese Student Association, on events.
Teo said co-hosting events with other groups has a positive effect because "everybody chats and makes more friends."
JSA President Kojiro Yagasaki said his organization also enjoys working with other groups.
"We've participated in the [Taiwanese-American Student Association]'s Night Market, [China Care Fund]'s fund raising event and several other group events," the College of Arts and Sciences senior said in an email.
Yagasaki said he wants the JSA to share culture with the BU community and to encourage Japanese students to reach out to people of different cultures.
"I hope that students at BU gain interest in Japan and understand its culture more," he said. "Also, there are still Japanese students who are shy to blend in with the BU community, so I wish that the members will interrelate with the whole BU community."
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