Turkey, community and Michael Jackson
Story by Katie Everett
Photo by Jonathan Wasilewski
Honors team staff members Kaitlynne Rice, Eleanor Guthrie, Soka Vanegas and Sophie May host Friendsgiving in the lobby of the Charles W. Davis Concert Hall.
For those who cannot go home for the holidays this year, the Associated Students at University of Alaska Fairbanks, or ASUAF, and the Honors College, came together to make sure that students could still celebrate with their friends.
ASUAF and the Honors College hosted a Friendsgiving event on November 20th in the Great Hall, which was open to any UAF student.
The event was complete with orange overhead lighting, a table full of delicious Thanksgiving food and any flavor of pie anyone could ask for, and Michael Jackson playing over speakers.
Friendsgiving was a potluck style event, so attendees were encouraged to make and bring a dish that they loved to share with all. The food table was covered with all the staple Thanksgiving foods such as turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
Along with the staple items, some brought more unique dishes such as hot dog salads and custard cranberry pie.
The star of the show, most definitely, was the pie table. Multiple tables long covered in any flavor of pie anyone could ask for. Peanut butter, key lime, apple, pecan, cranberry, and, arguably the best, pumpkin.
The atmosphere was set with communal, paper covered tables and orange overhead lighting that really emphasized the Thanksgiving feel. Students enjoyed the crayons spaced over tables, and drew hand turkeys and portraits of each other.
The classic feel of Thanksgiving was definitely present at this event, and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, the Sun Star asked students what their favorite and most unique Thanksgiving dishes were. Responses included key lime pie, high bush cranberry ketchup, cranberry sauce, rolls, and mysterious pink fluff.
Photo by Katie Everett
Left to right: Ava Moore Smyth, Adriana Ramirez, and Devyn Townsend smile as they enjoy the Friendsgiving event.
“My favorite is definitely green bean casserole,” said Devyn Townsend.
“Beaver,” Ava Moore Smyth responded without a beat when asked what her family’s most unique Thanksgiving dish was.
The Smyth family also enjoys an Alaskan classic, salmon, at their Thanksgiving table.
To keep the spirit of students up, the Honors College played music. The most played artist was most certainly Michael Jackson, who apparently fits with the Thanksgiving theme quite well.
Students also enjoyed listening to Dolly Parton and similar artists. Many danced and sang along with friends as they colored and enjoyed their meal and good company.
The event had a very communal, welcoming atmosphere and made sure that everyone felt included and got a good, fulfilling, homemade meal.
Many students enjoyed the homey feel of the event, especially as homesickness sets in with the shortening daylight hours and holiday season coming up. The home cooked meal helped make the event feel a little bit closer to home, even if many students are far away from their homes.
The Honors College and ASUAF succeeded in hosting an event that allowed students to celebrate the holidays with their friends, even if they cannot go home to celebrate with their families.