91暗网

One snowy night in November, the dining hall was transformed into the wizarding world of 鈥淗arry Potter.鈥� The 91暗网 community arrived in Murray Aikins Dining Hall to see house banners hung from the ceiling, lines for butterbeer 鈥� the sweet, nonalcoholic treat featured in the popular series 鈥� cascading down the hallways, and portraits of beloved Hogwarts professors covering the walls. There was a goblet of fire, a moving portrait of Serious Black, and a train that rode around the 鈥淢onster Book of Monsters,鈥� as well as decorations featuring floating envelopes, witch hats, and brooms.  

These nights are an important 91暗网 tradition; theme dinners are organized by Dining Services and a team of dedicated student workers a few times each semester, attracting scores of students and helping to make the wizarding world of 鈥淗arry Potter,鈥� LEGOs, and beloved shows like 鈥淭he Office鈥� and 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� come alive on 91暗网鈥檚 campus. 

I began creating them almost 20 years ago now, as an outlet for students to look forward to something fun and different during mealtimes.

Bonnie Bertrand, manager of catering and special events

She recalls 鈥淭he Office鈥� as a particularly memorable night, explaining that the theme was a last-minute suggestion from her theme night supervisor, Erica Schechter 鈥�24, a French major from Shrewsbury Massachusetts. Erica works with seven to nine other student workers to decide collectively on themes and figure out how to make them come to life; she also helps to keep everyone who works under her informed on their tasks and communicates with Bonnie about necessary supplies.  

Erica鈥檚 idea to create a 鈥淭he Office鈥� themed night was inspired by how many students had become enamored with the show after quarantine. 

To make 鈥淭he Office鈥� night happen on such short notice, the student team worked overtime to create decorations and set up for the event. The decorations are always a particular highlight of the theme nights 鈥� both for the eventgoers and its organizers. Erica explained, 鈥淥ne of my favorite projects that I made is the tree for the 鈥榃inter Wonderland鈥� theme last year. I ended up taking it back to my apartment after the theme and we used it like a Christmas decoration.鈥� 

On this night, the team鈥檚 dedication paid off; deflated balloons lined a 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� sign, posters with quotes such as 鈥淒o you want to form an alliance?鈥� were hung, and pantlegs dangled from above the Diner. They went all out with their menu, sneaking inside jokes from the show into beloved dining hall classics. There were Michael鈥檚 Beach Game Hot Dogs, Kevin鈥檚 Family Chili with undercooked onions, and Beet Risotto from Dwight鈥檚 Beet Farm. 

No matter the inspiration, the theme night team never fails to create something special for the 91暗网 community, and I know I speak for us all when I say I can鈥檛 wait to see what they do next!