The Hawkeye Newspaper hosted its annual movie night fundraiser on February 2. The night was brilliantly organized by Hawkeye’s business department, who sought a variety of refreshments from various restaurants and set up the highly anticipated event, helping to promote it ahead of time. The movie night was thoroughly enjoyed by all its viewers, consisting of both Hawkeye members and movie fanatics alike. 

The doors to the cafeteria opened at 5:00 PM, with viewers excitedly rushing in to get seated at a table of their choice with their friends. Business associates volunteered throughout the event, with each taking part in a crucial part of the event. Some ran the ticket counter at the front of the cafeteria while others served refreshments along a wall near the screening. A savory assortment of food included dishes such as chicken tenders and vegetarian options, such as stuffed mushrooms and macaroni and cheese. The lines for these delicious refreshments grew as the anticipation for the movie also grew. 

Before the movie night, the associates of the business department spent weeks receiving donations and support from generous local businesses and restaurants, such as Chili’s, Domino’s, Olive Garden, and others. The process of scouting these donations and reaching out to the many restaurants was lengthy for the business associates, but it was ultimately worth it as the delicious food provided truly made the movie night enjoyable.   

“It was a huge team effort. Our collaboration of business leaders and business associates utilized a massive spreadsheet to find and call restaurants in the area, asking them for a donation,” said business associate sophomore Aanya Marya. “It took time and effort, but it was rewarding to see fellow peers enjoying the fruits of our labor.” 

The event commenced as the long-awaited movie began to air on the large screen at the front of the cafeteria. The movie chosen was the fantasy comedy film Barbie, a hit during the summer of 2023. The movie, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, brought a modern live-action twist to the classic franchise. Delving into complex issues such as feminism, discrimination, and growing up, eyes were glued onto the screen as Barbie ventured on various adventures. 

“I couldn’t take my eyes off the movie,” remarked sophomore Tanvi Pallapati. “My favorite part of the movie was when the song “I’m Just Ken” played! Overall, the movie taught me that it is not necessary to conform to society’s standards and to just be yourself. I had a lot of fun the whole time.”

 After the movie and the event concluded, clusters of audience members applauded, having thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As the audience members slowly departed for the night, the Hawkeye team greeted them at the door and thanked them for coming. The business associates, along with the custodial team, helped to clean up the food booth and seats. 

 The success of this annual fundraiser was ultimately owed to the support of the Hawkeye business department, the Hawkeye board, the supporting staff, and of course, the attending audience members. It was truly an enjoyable, memorable night for the attendees and will be highly anticipated for next year.