We sang and danced at the Staff Registered Campus Organization (RCO) Showcase event. We also kept our fingers tucked in because two thirsty lions prowled the atrium looking for booze.
Let us start at the beginning.
At First, Things Were Fine
UC Oracles Toastmasters Staff RCO. Credit: Marco Sanchez, DM
The inaugural Staff RCO event, coupled with the celebration of the Lunar New Year, gave RCOs an opportunity to talk about their organizations and recruit new members. “I really enjoyed how the event brought together people from different groups within the RCO community. It’s lovely to make connections with both new and familiar faces,” Colette Ono-Ko, represented the Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program Alums.
Participating Staff RCOs included:
- Asian Pacific American Systemwide Alliance
- Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at UCSF
- Black Caucus
- Campus Evangelistic Fellowship
- Diversity & Inclusion Certificate Program Alums
- UC Oracles Toastmasters
- United Filipinx Association
- Women In Technology
Curious guests talked to the RCO representatives, mingled with coworkers they don’t see often, and enjoyed the fitting finger food of dumplings and eggrolls.
Then, Things Got Vocal
The Lunar New Year celebration started at the Rutter Center doors, which were decorated with Chinese lanterns. At the check-in table, guests were welcomed to take a red envelope most of which had an elaborate fortune card, but the lucky eight received a voucher that they could exchange for hats, mugs, fanny packs, or gift cards.
Kicking off the entertainment part of the event, GAPA Men’s Chorus’ finely tuned vocal chords took over the atrium and gathered a crowd of awe-stricken onlookers. They sang Taiwanese and Kazakh songs in Mandarin and Cantonese.
Chorus members. Credit: Marco Sanchez, DM.
The playlist:
- 高山青 (Gao shan qing–The Mountain is Green); sung in Mandarin; Taiwanese aboriginal tune
- 海闊天空(Hoi Fut Tin Hung—Under a Vast Sky); sung in Cantonese
- 在那遥远的地方 (Zai na yao yuan de di fang—In that Distant Place); sung in Mandarin; Kazakh folk song
“That was so beautiful. I got really emotional during the second song. I had no idea what they were saying, but the wonderful harmony these humans created, echoing throughout the atrium, had me in my feelings,” Jamie DeAraujo, Arts and Events coordinator, reflecting on the performance.
One of the singers, Randy Kikukawa, who sings second bass, retired from UCSF in 2018 after dedicating 32 years at the university. “I retired 6 years ago, the time has really flown by, so it seemed like only a short time had passed since being here every day,” said Kikukawa.
This Is Where Things Went Tipsy
Next on the agenda…tanggu roll please…lion dancers from the local Lion Dance Me group. The two adorned lions worked the room, batting their embellished darling eyes to the beat of the drum. The crowd fell into synchronized laughter as the lions moved their tails side to side like a Golden Retriever anticipating treats.
"Lion" drinking "wine" from jug. Credit: Marco Sanchez, DM.
As the crowd roared with laughter, one lion decided to indulge in some "wine" from a gold jug. But too much of the faux booze sent him straight to the floor, rolling around like a turtle on its back.
Despite the chaos, the crowd was in stitches, enjoying the spectacle.
Alas, the back-and-forth rocking proved successful, and the drunken lion got back on its paws concluding the performance.
The wine was pretend; the drunken act was pretend; the joy of the audience was real.
“The performances by the GAPA Men’s Chorus and the lion dancers were both so uplifting and filled the whole Rutter Center with good spirits,” Ono-Ko shares.
The Backstage
The genius behind this madness? None other than Annika Le, Events Coordinator, who pitched the idea during her job interview and turned it into reality. "I grew up celebrating the Lunar New Year with my Vietnamese family, so I thought, what better way to showcase this special RCO community, than through a big celebration with songs, dragons, and food. I’m grateful to my team for helping me execute this vision!" explained Le.
"UCSF is lucky to have such a creative mind as Annika on our team. From interview idea to full-blown event, she's a force to be reckoned with," praised DeAraujo.
And thus, the Rutter Center witnessed a party for the ages, complete with lions, laughter, and a whole lot of fun.
Staff RCO Showcase coupled with the Lunar New Year celebration brought GAPA Men's Chorus and lion dancers to Rutter Center.
