Spring Break
READER COMMENTARY: Pachanga began with different values
Letters to the Editor | 3/31/09
Posted online at 6:49 PM EST on 3/30/09
/ Last updated at 4:38 AM EST on 3/30/09
In response to your article "The legend of Pachanga" (March 24 issue): My name is Michael, and I was one of the co-founders of Pachanga.
The year Pachanga was founded, a group of students started the International House. We were from Bolivia, Romania, Greece, Argentina, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Israel and New Jersey.
Our goal was to bring diversity awareness to campus, and we started to have events in our Ridgewood house. These events always had a cultural element attached to them (eclectic food, music from all over the world, speakers, etc.)
As these events grew in popularity we started holding them in larger venues: first in Cholmondeley's and eventually in Levin Ballroom.
We called the events "Pachanga." Through "guerrilla" marketing (yes, we were the first ones to form the word Pachanga out of fliers on the walls of Sherman), we were able to make these events a larger and better part of every semester. Heck, those parties were awesome!
I am thrilled to hear that Pachanga continues to grow; however, it would be great to see the event revert back to its original values of integrating diversity into campus through food, music and fun times. Violence was never a part of it, and until we graduated, the party was always free of charge.
Many people deserve credit for making it such a successful event and allowing it to live for over 10 years.
-Michael Winer '98
The year Pachanga was founded, a group of students started the International House. We were from Bolivia, Romania, Greece, Argentina, Bulgaria, Venezuela, Israel and New Jersey.
Our goal was to bring diversity awareness to campus, and we started to have events in our Ridgewood house. These events always had a cultural element attached to them (eclectic food, music from all over the world, speakers, etc.)
As these events grew in popularity we started holding them in larger venues: first in Cholmondeley's and eventually in Levin Ballroom.
We called the events "Pachanga." Through "guerrilla" marketing (yes, we were the first ones to form the word Pachanga out of fliers on the walls of Sherman), we were able to make these events a larger and better part of every semester. Heck, those parties were awesome!
I am thrilled to hear that Pachanga continues to grow; however, it would be great to see the event revert back to its original values of integrating diversity into campus through food, music and fun times. Violence was never a part of it, and until we graduated, the party was always free of charge.
Many people deserve credit for making it such a successful event and allowing it to live for over 10 years.
-Michael Winer '98
Be the first to comment on this story