The UFMC’s annual formal: “A Night in Paris”

Students recap their experience at the UFMC formal

ABIGAIL CAVIZO / ASST. A&C EDITOR / THE USD VISTA

After not having an in-person formal since 2019, the United Front Multicultural Commons (UFMC) was determined to put on an enjoyable night open for all students at USD to attend. The UFMC, located on the fourth floor of the Student Life Pavilion (SLP), has a mission to welcome students of all cultures. 

While the UFMC is an educational resource built on their mission statement to cultivate an environment for students to have the agency to create social change, they also put on multiple events throughout the school year. 

The UFMC is always welcoming students to engage in their events and learn more about nurturing and respecting the identities of every student. 

Walking into the hall, the music was playing at full blast. The line leading into the venue was full of excited chatter — students discussing whether they would grab a quick bite to eat first or pose for the photobooth. “A Night in Paris” was complete with a picture booth, small appetizers to snack on, and a DJ. 

Graduate Assistant at the UFMC and head of the Formal Planning Committee, Jemefer Angela Cruz, wanted a night without worries for her and for USD students in attendance.

“The planning was a little bit difficult for an event like this, but it’s also been really fun to see sides of student affairs and working with outside vendors,” Cruz said. “It’s like prom, but in college, so I hope students use this night to have fun.”

Located at the Spring Hills Suites in Bayfront, Cruz discussed how her student interns wanted to choose the theme “A Night in Paris” because they wanted a theme that was not overdone, and still had a classy feel to it. Since the formal was not held on campus, the UFMC provided USD trams as transportation for students to get there. 

A major goal for Cruz and her student interns was to get students to interact with one another. 

She wanted them to notice that they have a community of people to lean on and have fun with. 

USD sophomore Demili Pichay was thankful for the night’s environment. 

“I always appreciate the UFMC because I feel like it’s really important for our student body to connect with one another, especially with different cultures,” Pichay said. “Even if I don’t talk to everyone, just seeing everyone dressed up together so beautifully is already a connection since we all came here to get to know each other and have fun.”

Similar to Pichay, USD sophomore Samantha Leon was grateful to have a night of fun. 

The amount of students, the ambiance of the room, and the Paris-themed decorations made her feel like they should hold this event semi-annually, rather than annually. 

“I really like diverse communities, so the UFMC putting this on is everything to me,” Leon stated. “I never see events with this much diversity and I love it.”

Another aspect of the night that students enjoyed was the DJ. Leading up to the event, students were able to request songs by filling out a google form linked in the UFMC’s instagram bio @usdufmc. 

Because of this feature, many were anticipating the DJ to play their favorite songs, including USD sophomore Joshua Smith. 

When he first walked in, he didn’t know what to expect, especially because he and his date were one of the first people to arrive. 

“At first, it was a little dead with four tables and hardly any people, but the energy of the night really picked up when more people got here,” Smith said. “My friends and I were dancing and I even requested some Bruno Mars.”

For students of all cultures and identities, the UFMC’s annual formal embodied an amusing night for students to celebrate one another. Regardless of the fact that the UFMC formal only happens once a year, many students found joy in various aspects of the night. 

True to the Formal Planning Committee team’s goal, “A Night in Paris” was one for students to create unforgettable memories and dance the night away.