The Hopkins community gathered outside Gilman Hall Tuesday night for the eighth annual Lighting of the Quad, co-sponsored by the Hopkins Parents Fund, the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Office of Student Life.
The crowd was treated to refreshments, heard a performance from the Johns Hopkins pep band and received sparklers in celebration of the event. The a cappella groups were also on hand to perform holiday songs — the Sirens sang an arrangement of “Carol of the Bells,” the AllNighters performed “Jingle Bells,” and Ketzev performed the Counting Crows’ “Accidentally in Love,” which seemed out of place on the holiday-centric evening.
“The a cappella groups were fun and festive! I really enjoyed the AllNighters. Their rendition of “Jingle Balls” was awesome,” freshman Clarissa Alfes said.
Seniors received class mugs and sophomores received a Hopkins 2015 winter hat, but unfortunately the supply was far too limited.
President Ronald J. Daniels and Interim Provost Jonathan A. Bagger then flipped the switch, illuminating Gilman Hall, the Breezeway and the Gilman Quad. For the first time ever, the event also featured a fireworks display.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the fireworks. I think we sat [sic] the bar up higher than previous Lighting of the Quads. I’m glad that students also came out to support a great school tradition. I would like to thank all the people who supported the event, as well as those from the Office of Student Life, Student Activities, SGA, RAB, Hopkins Club, etc who prepared hard to make the event be a success,” SGA Executive President Moses Song wrote in an email to The News-Letter.
Student Life and the Residential Advisory Board sponsored the annual Gingerbread Competition.
