Lotus had multiple student bands slated to play live music for the duration of the event.
GRACE CARDINAL / THE QUADRANGLE
By Jill Tuthill, Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor
Lotus, Manhattan University’s student run lifestyle and fashion magazine, held their 2024 Halloween Bash on the quad on Oct. 26, featuring a photobooth, bake sale, costume contest and live music. The event featured student bands such as Suave Dubois, Thrush, Help Wanted and DJ x 6 Kam. The bash was held primarily as a fundraiser to support the magazine as the masthead attempts to print their semesterly issue despite campus-wide club budget cuts.
According to Lotus’s website, their goal is “to serve as a platform for artists to collaborate on creative endeavors of self-expression. Through the means of empowerment, art, fashion and beauty, Manhattan College [University] students are encouraged to authentically represent their cultures and identities.”
The Quadrangle set out to find out how attendees felt about the publication’s Halloween Bash as they attempt to continue to provide their platform to students through both digital and print editions.
Ava Gaspari, senior English major, co-Editor-In-Chief of Lotus
The Quadrangle: What was your role in planning the Halloween Bash?
Ava Gaspari: Chayse [Martino] and Jack [Devaney] and Ivy [Jaep] did a lot of it, but we worked on the budget and how much we could do without going over budget. We kind of just oversaw everything and made sure everything worked out.
TQ: How do you feel it’s going? Are you happy with the turnout?
AG: I feel like we’ll know when we have the money, but the turnout was way more than I expected, and the bands are doing great. People are in costumes better than I thought. A lot of people are buying tickets, so I think it’s going great.
TQ: What’s your favorite costume that you’ve seen tonight?
AG: The joker was good. There are guys here really dressed up as, I think, Sherlock Holmes.
Maggie Schediac, junior communications major, asst. Lifestyle and Opinions editor
The Quadrangle: What was your role in planning the Halloween Bash?
MS: I’ve mostly just helped out with setting up a little bit, and I’m here with the bake sale table. …We talked a lot about it at our meetings as well as through our GroupMe and everyone was super super helpful with getting everything together, and it’s been a lot of fun.
TQ: How do you feel like it’s going? Are you happy with the turnout?
MS: I’m actually really happy with the turnout. I was a little nervous at first, but there’s been a lot of people here, and I’m really happy.
TQ: What’s your favorite costume that you’ve seen tonight?
MS: Probably the inflatable dinosaur.
Michael Freeman, sophomore mechanical engineering major, student attendee
TQ: How do you like the Halloween Bash? Are you having fun?
MF: I just got here, but I’ve been to these before and had a good time.
TQ: Do you like the live music from the student bands?
MF: Yeah.
For updates regarding Lotus’s print status, or to access their GoFundMe, find them on Instagram @lotusmagazinemu.