USG breaks Baruch business stigma with Art Gala

Thursday night’s Art Gala, which ran from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the VC cafeteria, brought together Baruch students from all corners of the school to appreciate the artistic talents of their classmates. With over 65 submissions, the event space housed dozens of easels filled with photographs and paintings by students of all majors and interests.

Baruch student Tahir Chaudhry had five of his photographs accepted into the Art Gala, the first gala that he has submitted his work to.

“There is such a good turnout tonight,” Chaudhry smiled as he took a brief tour of the space before returning to his photographs. The enthusiastic din of the crowd was punctuated only by quiet instrumental music, and event coordinators talking to the visitors while sticking nametags under each piece of art.

USG President Antonio Alfonso was pleasantly surprised by the success of the event. “I was speechless walking in,” he stated.

The cafeteria as a venue was a last-minute room choice, with the Arts and Community Committee given little time to plan how to use the room to its utmost potential.

“At first, I wasn’t sure about this room,” stated Hina Jehan, Chair of the Arts and Community Outreach Committee. “But this really is amazing!”

The 10 active members of Arts and Community Outreach Committee were the main coordinators of the event, which has been in the works since January of this year.

The need for the event arose when the committee began to recognize the dearth of opportunities afforded to arts-inclined students at Baruch.

“There are so many talented students in Baruch – but they have no outlet,” Jehan stated as she proudly looked around the bustling room.

“Some people thought that this wouldn’t work in a business school,” she said. “But here’s the proof that it can.”

The Arts and Community Outreach Committee was created last year, through close collaboration between Jehan and Alfonso. “I wanted to start the art aspect of the committee, and Tony wanted to start the community aspect,” Jehan went on to claim. “We couldn’t have started this without Tony.”

Submissions were being accepted for the photo contest from Sept. 29 through Nov. 29 of 2011. The top 13 submissions are scheduled for display on the walls of the student areas on the third floor of the VC. These 13 photographs were also on display during the Art Gala, interspersed with new pieces submitted specifically for the event.

The top five pieces of art from the Gala­, voted upon by its visitors, will accompany the 13 winners of the photo contest on display.

Coordinating and co-sponsoring the event involved the work of 15 organizations, including Golden Key International Honour Society, Baruch Women In Business, the Transfer Student Organization, Encounters Magazine, Party With Baruch, Pre-Law Society, Fashion Industry Club, and others.

The Arts and Community Outreach Committee has coordinated various events over the past year, including five drives for food, clothing, and other supplies – the Committee has a textbook drive ongoing, with boxes on the second floor and in the USG area of the third floor.

One of the ways that they have connected Baruch with the East Village community was their participation in local street fair events since the committee’s inception.

Alfonso talked about the Art Gala’s ability to be the stepping-stone to many more similar events.

“Show Baruch the value of the art, and show the community the value of Baruch.”