Nestled in the Student Hub on the second floor of 39 W. 13th St., an array of flowers, ribbons, and kraft paper was situated. In a heartwarming display of creativity and community spirit, students at The New School gathered for a DIY bouquet-making event on Thursday, Feb. 20. The activity was organized by The University Student Senate (USS). Attendees embraced the chance to express their affection and appreciation for friends and loved ones through this event, celebrating togetherness beyond the classroom.

The event, which was initially supposed to be held on Valentine’s Day, got pushed back a week due to undisclosed reasons. The location was also changed last minute from the University Center to the Student Hub. Despite these last minute changes, the turnout exceeded expectations.

Right in the middle of the hub, a long table was decorated with multiple types of flowers, as well snacks, raffles, and prizes. After picking out their flowers, people moved toward another table that was set up with cellophane, kraft and tissue paper, as well as different colored ribbons, pins, and more accessories to customize participants’ bouquets to their hearts’ desire. While multiple students took photographs with their bouquets and gifted them to their friends, some picked up the blank canvases and painting supplies at the neighbouring table to accompany their floral arrangement with a painting. Other students opted to enjoy the free pizza instead.

Issepa Galilea Eddir, the USS director of engagement, stated that the main goal for the event was to “build community” within the student body. “I’m so glad that there was such a crazy turnout,” Eddir said. “I really was not expecting anything [close to] this amount of people.” The student senate ordered the flowers from an online wholesaler and placed them in buckets of water in preparation for the event. 

The flowers on the table included roses of multiple colors, baby’s breath, azaleas, and daisies. Once the crowd began filing in, USS members began instructing people in the queue to stick to eight flowers per person. Nonetheless, every bouquet had an individual flair. While some simply wrapped the kraft paper around the flowers in a traditional manner, others used two different colored papers to add depth.

Over at the painting table, people had set down their bouquets to recreate the vibrancy of the flowers on canvas. Some were painting a sunset, some flowers, and others were trying their luck at a portrait of the friends they attended the event with.

The Student Hub had an electric ambience brimming with excitement. Students at the arrangement table were seen helping each other trim the stems of their flowers, as the person next to them helped them hold their bouquet while they cut the ribbon. People from different friend groups, as well as those who attended alone, were all sharing the sofa space to partake in this therapeutic exercise.

Students at the sofa area were discussing the event being an avenue of stress relief, especially as the spring semester picks up pace. This event also created a space for fostering real conversations in a digital detox environment. Eddir stated that she wants to foster “engagement and community” at The New School through more events hosted by the student senate.