The Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) welcomes all the students back from the
holiday break and is proud to present the Winter Carnival. It is a week packed with activities and comfort, designed for each student’s personality: from energetic
extroverts to cozy introverts. The goal of the carnival is to provide a smooth transition
everyone needs, and kick off the new semester with something positive. Winter Carnival has been one of Mt.A’s most significant traditions. It signifies the new year and semester, and sends a heart-warming welcome to each student.
Jan. 12 marked the start of the week. It was the day when you could see everyone walking with a coffee cup in the morning and with paint on their pants in the evening. Why? Because two events took place on the same day: Hot Chocolate & Apple Cider, and Paint Night. All costs were covered by the MASU, so every student was able to participate.
Next up was hip-hop dance class. Thanks to the Mt.A Dance Team, students were able to shake off any worries in the new semester. It was open to all skill levels, creating a fun and welcoming environment for everyone.
After came movie night. Decided by the vote on MASU’s Instagram page (which has more stuff to check out), movie lovers across campus gathered together and shared popcorn while watching their favourite movie.
Jan. 15 was another big day, with two events throughout the day. The first one was earlier Thursday evening: Mt.A Student Town Hall. The aim of the event was to connect the student body and the University administration. This was a reminder that even after a long break, the MASU is making an effort to make voices heard and opinions included. Later that evening, the MASU hosted a Waterpong Tournament for all students.
The week was long, full of events and classes, but Friday was worth the wait.
Headphone disco is the star of the Winter Carnival. With 300 people expected to attend, this was one of the most popular events on campus. What differs it from the usual disco party is dancers have their own choice of music, and there is a lot to choose from. You can also connect with your fellow dancers with similar music taste by the colour on their headphones. This year it was big, but next year it will be bigger. Assistant entertainment coordinator, Kathryn Grace Canning says, “These events are a great opportunity to meet new friends and reconnect with old as we enter the second semester of the year.”
Winter Carnival was organized and prepared by the Entertainment Committee, which is led by Patrick Barnhill, MASU director of entertainment & activities. They are the ones who work behind the scenes and prepare every single MASU event on campus. Preparations for the winter carnival began in October and were followed by collective work from every member of the committee. There was a lot of work done, but in the end, it brought the Winter Carnival, which everyone loves.