LUNAR NEW YEAR

From page 1

Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander American communities.

“It is a way to bring the community together,” Molitor said. “It’s an opportunity for people to learn about Lunar New Year, which is celebrated by many different Asian cultures.”

The centerpiece of the celebration, the lion dance, featured two dancers dressed in a vibrant costume from the Chicago-based Seven Star Lion Dance Group. The red, golden and white lion jumped up and down to a traditional Chinese rhythm and playfully grabbed fruits, vegetables and red envelopes from the hands of people watching.

Daron Lee, the group’s drummer, said lion dancing is a family tradition he learned by watching his father perform. Now, he’s teaching it to his son, who performed with the group Sunday.

“We want (people) to learn about the lion dance and about the Chinese culture,” Lee said. “We do this to bring good luck and fortune and ward off evil spirits.”

In Pink & Tan, a Main-Dempster decor shop, children chatted and laughed around a long table filled with red papers, stickers and other art supplies for a lantern-making workshop. Many participants made creative designs with personal touches, like unique patterns and Chinese characters.

Maggie Peng, the owner of Pink & Tan, said the lanterns are an important part of the Chinese New Year celebration because they light the way for the new year.

Peng, who moved to Evanston in 2020, said the event and encouraged undergraduate student workers to continue their efforts to self-advocate.

“You all are integral. Your work is so important,” Lozier said. “We see you, we see what you’re doing, we want to be in solidarity with you.”

RAs have already begun working with Students Organizing for Labor Rights, Lichamer said.

Lichamer added that undergraduate student collectives at institutions like Columbia University have recently made large strides with their demands and treatment, such as a $1,000 yearly raise for RAs.

“It’s time in general for us as RAs and workers to join other peer institutions that have been able to organize and unionize and work together to achieve their goals and demands,” Lichamer said. “If workers are better and doing better, and residents are doing better, I think that the whole university will get better as a whole.” kaavyabutaney2026@u.northwestern.edu fionaroach2025@u.northwestern.edu the celebration helps her connect with the broader ASPA community. She said she is glad to be able to host a part of the celebration and teach people about the many cultures that celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Mayor Daniel Biss and State Rep. Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz (D-Glenview) gave remarks at the celebration to highlight the importance of ASPA representation and recognizing its cultures.

“This is a community that needs to be lifted up,” Biss said. “Not just when it comes to a single annual celebration, but when it comes to representation, when it comes to political power, when it comes to language access, when it comes to culturally appropriate access to all the broad diversity of public services that we’re so proud to provide here.”

Biss and Gong-Gershowitz also addressed the Monterey, California shooting at a Lunar New Year festival Saturday, saying they stood in solidarity with grieving families.

Evanston resident Efia Peng saw the event advertised on the Downtown Evanston Instagram page and decided to go see the lion dance.

Efia Peng, who grew up in China, said the Lunar New Year in China is one of the few occasions each year when family members come together. For her, it is a very special memory.

She said she wants to see more Chinese cultural events — but also events celebrating festivals from other cultures, like Diwali.

“I know that there are a lot of diverse groups of people living in Evanston, so (we should) not just have a New Year but other major festivals,” Efia Peng said. “I think we have the resources. People are definitely supportive. Why not?” caseyhe2026@u.northwestern.edu

DAILY PUZZLES & CLASSIFIEDS • HELP WANTED • FOR RENT • FOR SALE

Classified Ads

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an ad. Corrections must be received by 10am on the day before ad runs again, call 847-4917206. All Classifieds must be paid in advance and are not accepted over the phone. To run online, ad must run in print on same day. The Daily does not knowingly accept misleading or false ads and does not guarantee any ad or claim, or endorse any advertised product or service. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.

It is the policy of The Daily Northwestern to accept housing advertising only from those whose housing is available without discrimination with respect to sexual orientation, race, creed or national origin. The presumption is therefore, that any housing listing appearing here is non-discriminatory.

THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN is not responsible for more than one incorrect insertion of an ad. Corrections must be received by 10am on the day before ad runs again, call 847-4917206. All Classifieds must be paid in advance and are not accepted over the phone. To run online, ad must run in print on same day. The Daily does not knowingly accept misleading or false ads and does not guarantee any ad or claim, or endorse any advertised product or service. Please use caution when answering ads, especially when sending money.

HELP WANTED ADS are accepted only from advertisers who are equal opportunity employers. The presumption, therefore, is that all positions offered here are available to qualified persons without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, handicap, or veteran status.

Complete the grid so each ROW, COLUMN and 3-by-3 BOX (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit www.sudoku.org.uk