Freshmen build community at High Table

The Class of 2015 assembled at the Ralph O'Connor Recreation Center Monday evening for the third annual High Table Dinner. The tradition, established in 2010, allows students to dine with prominent community members such as President Ronald Daniels and other University deans.
"High Table dinner was the first time the entire class had gotten together since Orientation, and it was just a great chance to reconnect and unwind," freshman Payton Clover said.
The Hopkins High Table is based on the British tradition of Formal Hall, which is a style of dining that has taken place at Oxford and Cambridge for centuries. The dining atmosphere is meant to be academic and the layout of the room includes an elevated table, labeled the High Table.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the High Table event on Monday evening. This event truly emphasizes to our freshman class that they are a vital part of the larger academic and learning community of Johns Hopkins. It was wonderful to see the students engaged in conversation with the faculty and senior leaders and connecting on common areas of interest," Provost Sarah B. Steinberg said.
At High Table professors and administrators are seated among the students to facilitate interaction and dialogue. Daniels, Provost Lloyd B. Minor, Dean Katherine Newman, Steinberg, Dean Susan Boswell and Dean Nicholas P. Jones were the ones seated at the High Table, along with the members of the Freshmen Class Council.
"This being the third year of high table, I would argue that it was the most successful, in terms of getting so many faculty and administrators to attend. With traditions in the making such as High Table, a yearly concert or the President's Day of Service, the ability for alumni and future alumni to have something to talk about in common will bring the Hopkins community closer together," freshman SGA Representative Mahzi Martin said.
"High Table has become such a wonderful Johns Hopkins tradition. Last night, I was delighted to see so many students and faculty engaged in lively discussion and debate, the hallmark of a true university community," said Minor.
The night started with a speech by Freshman Class President, Joshua Goodstein. He started by reminiscing about how far we have come as a class since the beginning of the year, and what the ideas and innovations that are yet to come. Minor and Daniels also addressed the freshmen.
Minor elaborated on what the High Table means for Hopkins in his speech at the dinner.
"One of the differences between the High Table of Oxford and Cambridge and ours, is that at our High Table dinner we have faculty out with you, seated with you this evening to speak with you," Minor said to the crowd in the Recreation Center. "And here at the High table we have students with us. This reflects the underlying spirit and intent of Johns Hopkins University, and that is in every way, and with every activity, put you the students in contact with faculty and the other members of the Hopkins community, so that you can learn from us, and we can learn from you."
"I was particularly pleased with the turn out for High Table and feel that this is fast becoming a very much looked forward to tradition for the freshmen class," Boswell said.
The Recreation Center was transformed into a banquet with table clothes, sparkling apple cider, waiters and a three-course meal.
"High Table was a great evening spent with friends. The atmosphere was fun and lively and the food was delicious. It was the perfect break from a hectic week of midterms and a great note to end on before Spring Break," Leah Barresi, a freshman, said.
Although many deemed the event a success, some students noted there was room for improvement.
"This was definitely a unique opportunity, and a pleasure to attend; however, I was expecting a bit more from the food. It was good, but I thought there may have been more of a difference between that and the FFC," freshman Ryan Schneider said.
The unique aspect for many students at the High Table was that they were presented with an opportunity to converse with a professor outside of their major and try to learn about what they are interested in. Professor Daniel Deudney was one of the professors in attendance. Deudney is extremely well known within the International Studies community at Hopkins, but when placed with a group of biology majors, it was a learning opportunity for both Deudney and the students.
"The High Table gave me an opportunity to say things, which I normally wouldn't say. It was a chance to discuss topics of interest to me that may not necessarily be part of the curriculum, and do so with a great group of students. This was also a great opportunity to bring together the Hopkins identity, especially with a majority of the freshmen class coming together with their class officers," Deudney said.