Tuffy’s Lawn twinkled through the rain as Cal State Fullerton’s eighth annual Titan Night Market showcased the campus’ Asian clubs, cuisine and music with the aim of replicating a traditional Asian night market.
At the heart of the event on Nov. 15, sponsored by the Asian Pacific American Resource Center and Associated Students, were booths from student organizations.
The K-Pop Club, Bayanihan Kollective, Taiwanese Student Association, Korean Student Association, Association of Chinese Students and the Muslim Student Association allowed students to get to know their clubs.
Kevin Guan, internal vice president of the Korean Student Association, explained the night market as a family-friendly gathering.
“Everybody would go up at night and meet up at a central location. They’d bring their families there. There would be a lot of vendors just like toys, food, activities and it was very communal based activities,” Guan said. “It was bringing the community together and having a rest after a long, hard day’s work. It’s very integral to Asian cultures.”
Campus partnerships from Student Wellness, the Transfer, Adult Re-entry, Parenting and Pregnant Student Center and CSUF’s Asian American Studies Department offered information to attendees, providing time for everyone to learn more about the campus resources available to them.
Three tasty food stalls were also featured at the event with an assortment of Asian cuisine including bowls from Coconut Truck, dumplings from Aro Chili and beverages from Sojeata.
Nick Arce, a third-year business major, is a newcomer to night markets and waited in the long line for dumplings from Aro Chili.
“I got the Korean barbecue beef dumplings. It was pretty good,” Arc said. “My friend recommended me to come to this one, so that’s why I picked this one. He’s Filipino, so he knows a little bit more about Asian food than I do.”
A series of music and performances highlighted the cultural richness of Asia. Musical performances included acts by Seoulful, The FullerTones and Aria. These included Sinawali, a type of Filipino martial arts, stand-up comedy and juggling.
“As an Asian American Studies major, I know the importance of having organizations and groups of people that represent our ethnic experiences,” said Miguel Tanjuakio of Bayanihan Kollective. “Spaces like Bayanihan Kollective and the APARC Night Market is a way that you can see people that look like me, people that I can relate to.”
Beyond its cultural showcase, the night market served as a platform for community engagement. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with club members, learn about their respective cultures and engage in conversations that promoted cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
“It increases the feeling of community and belonging at CSUF when we have spaces like this,” Tanjuakio said.