Loyola Phoenix: SASA Night 2001 enthralls while raising funds
Item
Title
Loyola Phoenix: SASA Night 2001 enthralls while raising funds
Description
An article by Madga Walczak, senior staff writer of the Loyola Phoenix, reports on the annual South Asian Students Alliance Night 2001, titled "A Mosaic of South Asia." Over 800 students, family, faculty, staff, and Loyola neighbors attended at the Sky Auditorium.
"Over 70 students put on 14 production numbers, including a skit, fashion shows, songs, traditional South Asian dances and a modern interpretation of conventional dance forms. During intermission, club members sold Indian food in the corridors.
'We, as South Asians, should be proud of our rich culture and diverse traditions,' said senior Ankur Arora, president of SASA. 'Each country in South Asia is a symbol of unity, love and appreciation for life. Together, we all represent a masterpiece of the intense celebration of life.'
The nations included as part of the celebration and represented in SASA were Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, said junior Puja Mehta, the fundraiser for SASA.
Although this was a student production, many outside individuals were involved. DJ Aladdin spun the music throughout the show and during intermission, and some of the costumes were provided by neighboring Devon Avenue merchants.
The annual SASA Night started two decades ago in order to cultivate the South Asian culture represented at Loyola and to educate the students and the university's neighbors and has been an important event ever since, Arora said."
"A theme prevalent in every aspect of the night was the convergence of tradition and modernity. From Conscious, a dance that went from traditional Indian and Oriental movement to modern dancing accompanied by tracks from Madonna, to Bhangra, a Northern Indian dance celebrating the harvest season which progressed into a modern dance to Destiny's Child's homage to independent women, each performance demonstrated this relationship between the old and the new."
This was also the first year it was co-sposored by the Chinese American Student Association.
"Another point of interest was the philanthropic feel to the event. Because of the catastrophic earthquake that took place in India's Gujarat region Jan. 26, SASA, along with the Muslim Student Association has teamed up with 'Doctors Without Borders,' a New York relief agency, to collect money for the victims of the earthquake, according to junior Ali Taqi. A moment of silence was observed Saturday for those who perished.
'It's a new kind of outlook on the whole club,' said Daisy Rockwell, SASA faculty sponsor. 'Social responsibility has become even more important to our organization.'
'At the same tme as we are enjoying our culture, we have to remember our people back home,' Arora said. ' Although we cannot bring loved ones back, we can do something.'"
SASA donated the proceeds from food sales and donations collected in boxes. Students noted the high turnout and diverse audience.
Three photos accompany the article, from top to bottom they show four seniors performing their Senior Skit (choreographed to a medley of popular old Hindi songs), Sophomore Preeti Jhawar showing off her dance skills in the American Funk segment, and eight of the dancers in 'A Glimpse of Kerala' posing outside the Skyscraper Auditorium before going onstage to perform thiruvadara, a traditional folk dance that represents the grace of women who join to celebrate the grand harvest festival, Onam.
Item 1: Full article
Item 2: Collage of two photos
"Over 70 students put on 14 production numbers, including a skit, fashion shows, songs, traditional South Asian dances and a modern interpretation of conventional dance forms. During intermission, club members sold Indian food in the corridors.
'We, as South Asians, should be proud of our rich culture and diverse traditions,' said senior Ankur Arora, president of SASA. 'Each country in South Asia is a symbol of unity, love and appreciation for life. Together, we all represent a masterpiece of the intense celebration of life.'
The nations included as part of the celebration and represented in SASA were Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, said junior Puja Mehta, the fundraiser for SASA.
Although this was a student production, many outside individuals were involved. DJ Aladdin spun the music throughout the show and during intermission, and some of the costumes were provided by neighboring Devon Avenue merchants.
The annual SASA Night started two decades ago in order to cultivate the South Asian culture represented at Loyola and to educate the students and the university's neighbors and has been an important event ever since, Arora said."
"A theme prevalent in every aspect of the night was the convergence of tradition and modernity. From Conscious, a dance that went from traditional Indian and Oriental movement to modern dancing accompanied by tracks from Madonna, to Bhangra, a Northern Indian dance celebrating the harvest season which progressed into a modern dance to Destiny's Child's homage to independent women, each performance demonstrated this relationship between the old and the new."
This was also the first year it was co-sposored by the Chinese American Student Association.
"Another point of interest was the philanthropic feel to the event. Because of the catastrophic earthquake that took place in India's Gujarat region Jan. 26, SASA, along with the Muslim Student Association has teamed up with 'Doctors Without Borders,' a New York relief agency, to collect money for the victims of the earthquake, according to junior Ali Taqi. A moment of silence was observed Saturday for those who perished.
'It's a new kind of outlook on the whole club,' said Daisy Rockwell, SASA faculty sponsor. 'Social responsibility has become even more important to our organization.'
'At the same tme as we are enjoying our culture, we have to remember our people back home,' Arora said. ' Although we cannot bring loved ones back, we can do something.'"
SASA donated the proceeds from food sales and donations collected in boxes. Students noted the high turnout and diverse audience.
Three photos accompany the article, from top to bottom they show four seniors performing their Senior Skit (choreographed to a medley of popular old Hindi songs), Sophomore Preeti Jhawar showing off her dance skills in the American Funk segment, and eight of the dancers in 'A Glimpse of Kerala' posing outside the Skyscraper Auditorium before going onstage to perform thiruvadara, a traditional folk dance that represents the grace of women who join to celebrate the grand harvest festival, Onam.
Item 1: Full article
Item 2: Collage of two photos
Date, date span, or circa acceptable
2001-02-07, event occurred 2001-02-03
File name
Loyola Phoenix, 2001-02-07, page 6, SASA Night 2001 enthralls while raising funds
Sources archive, University Archives and Special Collections or Women and Leadership Archives
University Archives and Special Collections
Source
University Archives and Special Collections, Loyola Phoenix, 2001-02-07, page 6, SASA Night 2001 enthralls while raising funds
Subject
Loyola University Chicago
Student life organizations
Student life activities
Student life activism
Student life dance
Rights
Contact the Loyola University Chicago Archives and Special Collections, archive@luc.edu, for permission to copy or publish.
