Game night was a welcome break from one of the most stressful academic weeks at Cornell. Everything is hectic after Thanksgiving, and students are rushing to complete major projects before finals. It was nice to come to the Rose common room for a bit of fun, even if I couldn’t stay long. The room was full of people casually studying and others quietly enjoying everything from scrabble to solitaire. At a time when everything else feels like it’s out of our control, it is lovely to be able to come together for a moment of relaxation.

It feels like a breath of fresh air. I greatly enjoyed going through a series of playing card games with friends in between writing term papers. There is a sense of solidarity as we all look around the room at each other’s stacks of worksheets, color-coded notes, and laptops precariously balanced over boxes of pictionary. The mood is cheerful, but subdued. There is something to be said for a quiet evening in with new friends!