Carnations 'n Harmony
Photo courtesy of Dinkun Chen/Wikimedia Commons
The MacVittie College Union the week before Valentine's Day is always full of clubs selling a variety of red and pink valentines, including carnations.
In the lobby of the MacVittie College Union on Feb. 9, Hips 'n Harmony held their annual carnation sale, drawing students in with colorful and vibrant flowers and bringing their familiar tradition back to campus. Taking place only days before the holiday of affection and friendship we call Valentine’s Day, the sale gave students an opportunity to buy a classic and timeless gift for their friends and loved ones. This event not only helped the group fundraise, but also helped to spread joy through small acts of kindness.
Hips 'n Harmony is an acappella on campus, and the carnation sale is a tradition they have partaken in for years, making it a constant and familiar presence that many associate with them each year. The carnations serve as the group's unique totem that sets them apart from other a cappella groups. Hips 'n Harmony often incorporates the flowers into their outfits during events, using them as a way to distinguish themselves and solidify their identity.
Hip 'n Harmony puts proceeds from the fundraiser towards their Hips Fund, which pays for necessary items like merchandise or t-shirts they use to distinguish themselves in events, and food and drink during events. These resources allow the group to continue hosting events, supporting their members, and maintaining their strong presence and influence on campus. Funding these essentials allows them to lower obstacles for participation in their group and create a welcoming environment for both their new members and their returnees. Fundraisers like their annual carnation fundraiser allow Hips 'n Harmony to continue to remain an active part of Geneseo life and an accessible organization for students who might be interested in singing a cappella.
Despite their success, organizing these fundraisers on campus is not easy, and there are multiple challenges that go along with it. There are many other organizations and clubs on campus that sell flowers, and sometimes they do not get as much traffic in the Union as other areas on campus, like the library. The girls that I talked to from the group noted that sometimes students prefer flowers from other groups, because with many groups selling similar things, it can be hard to stand out and attract attention from passersby. Sometimes, however, there just are not enough people in the Union to sell to. Traversing these obstacles requires careful organization and planning, especially with a wide and diverse range of students. Although Union sales can be difficult, the group continues their fundraising efforts to support their organization and remain engaged with the community on campus.
Despite the challenges of organizing their fundraiser, Hips 'n Harmony are able to see the most rewarding part of selling carnations: students’ responses. Buyers give the flowers to friends and loved ones, using the carnations as a meaningful gesture and gift of kindness and comradery. Seeing the students smile and react positively to the colorful gifts makes their efforts worthwhile. Moments like these create a sense of positive energy and bring the campus together. For Hips 'n Harmony, this is the high point of what even a small fundraiser can offer on the campus and serves as a reminder of why the fundraiser is a tradition.
As an annual event on campus, the carnation fundraiser continues to play an important part in Hips 'n Harmony’s campus presence. Through acts of kindness and fundraising, the group strengthens their connection to the Geneseo campus and community, and I look forward to their future carnation sales.