Pioneer collabs with IGO for Intercultural Premium Night 

Pioneer and IGO celebrate a new tradition that brings the community of all students and faculty to celebrate diversity by hosting Chinese New Year’s Premium Night. 

The event, which featured festive decorations and an Asian-inspired menu, marks an important step towards cultural appreciation. 

“It all began when Cole Bradburn visited the Pioneer office to inquire about hosting a Chinese New Year meal for the January Premium Night,” Pioneer Director Rob Scott said. “I was excited about the concept, so I arranged a meeting with Cole to gather more details about his vision. Together with the IGO team, Cole proposed some menu ideas, and I collaborated with our chef to incorporate most of the suggestions. Additionally, Cole and the IGO team will handle the decorations in the dining area to create a more festive atmosphere.” 

Scott took over as Director two years ago and has made every possible move for the students and staff of IWU to enjoy delicious meals and create healthier options along the way. 

The goal of this event is for the students to learn about the culture by enjoying traditional food for Chinese New Years and understand what the tradition is like. 

Cole Bradburn is a student ambassador for the Intercultural and Global Office who came up with the idea for the Chinese New Year meal for Premium Night. 

“I think it is a great idea to present cultural nights during the Premium Nights. These nights always have a lot of marketing, so they get the word out there,” Bradburn said.

The menu consisted of chow mein, egg fried rice, pork egg rolls and pork pot stickers. 

“The food tonight at Baldwin was really great. My favorite one was the chow mein and the pork egg rolls,” IWU student Terry Sylvester said. “Adding something like this really helps us. It opens our eyes and shows us a glimpse of what it’s like in their culture.” 

The Chinese New Year Premium Night highlighted IWU’s commitment to student-centered cultural diversity and experiences. 

“I wholeheartedly support the idea of incorporating more cultural nights or meals organized by students or campus groups, as it enhances the dining experience for everyone involved,” Scott said.