On Tuesday, residents in Forks, Washington experienced some light rain and cool temperatures in the mid-40s while students here at LSU felt the sun’s beaming rays and a high of 82 degrees. That only meant one thing to these university students: a day for “Twilight.”
LSU Library’s Hoa Hoa Day captured what makes people go “loca” for “Twilight.” The event was held in the Munn Family Active Learning Center, room 109 of the library, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The room was filled with tables that were exactly on theme for the special event.
Science Librarian Lili Bedoya is a part of the programming committee at the LSU Library, which is where members come together to plan engaging events every semester. Bodeya explained how she and Government Publications and Patent & Trademarks Librarian Kendall Caple came up with the idea for Hoa Hoa Day when they were thinking of new event ideas for the spring.
She said they were unsure about holding a “Twilight” day in the spring since the movie aligns more with the fall, but another coworker mentioned how the book counterpart’s setting actually takes place in the spring.
“Everyone acts like it’s a fall movie, but it’s just the gloominess of Washington,” Bodeya said.
In preparation for the event, Caple created coloring sheets herself because she could not find any online, and she also pulled the crossword puzzles off of Pinterest. Both librarians thought Hawaiian Punch was fitting for blood, and Moon Pies were meant to align with the wolf themes, even though the “Twilight” wolves do not necessarily have any moon lore.
Bodeya said the event’s name came from the Blue Foundation’s iconic “Eyes on Fire” song because people on the internet often make fun of it in relation to “Twilight.” Bodeya even emphasized why she pushed for “Twilight” as a theme for an LSU Library event.
“I read ‘Twilight’ when I was about 10 years old, so it’s very nostalgic for me,” Bodeya said. “I was like, ‘this is romance, this is peak. This is exactly what romance is.’”
Resource Sharing Specialist Jasmyne Johnson also helped with coordinating the event, and she detailed Hoa Hoa Day’s importance to student life and on-campus participation.
“I would hope that they could take away connection and bonding over something as silly as ‘Twilight,’” Johnson said. “It could be a good destressor, hopefully, for them. You know, being in school and just having something to take their minds off of it.”
The event’s attendees were first lured in by “Twilight” playing on the TV screen at the back of the room, but the tables around the room made the world of sparkling vampires come to life.
To the left of the room, patrons could help themselves to a small selection of refreshments and treats decorating a table’s surface. Some drinks of choice were Edward’s Sparkling Apple, which was just flavored sparkling water, and Bella’s O-Negative, or Hawaiian Punch. Next to the drinks were a few snacks, like few boxes of mini Moon Pies labeled as Jacob’s Wolf Treats.
Next to the bloodthirsty beverages and mouthwatering delights was a basket full of “Twilight” pins. With plenty of options to choose from, some pins included Edward with angel wings, Jacob memes and even ones showing sympathy to Charlie, Bella’s dad, as the events of the film likely seemed like a horror movie from his perspective.
The activities provided were somehow even more “Twilight”-ified than the edible delights and fashionable pins. From the film’s characters and scenery on Caple’s coloring sheets to friendship bracelet-making, there was something at every table for any Twi-hard to get into.
Senior screen arts major Senna Jekenu was seated at the friendship bracelet table, and she talked about how much she loved “Twilight.” She even recounted how she did a “Twilight” spoof project in high school, and she tries to go to any “Twilight” event she can find.
Jekenu described how she always thought of the “Twilight” movies as so bad that they are good, but she also thinks that the event can teach something to students who are not even huge fans of the franchise.
“I feel like more students should participate in campus events because this is a really big school, so it’s easy to get lost in yourself,” Jekenu said. “These bring people together again.”
The “Twilight” trivia asked questions such as what Bella ate at the Italian restaurant during her and Edward’s first date and what Edward’s favorite vampire vegetarian meal is.
Besides the film itself playing in the background, the “Twilight” books were also set up as decor on a table, and they are available to check out at the LSU Library. There was also a photo-op with red streamers as the background and a plethora of popsicle stick props available to take pictures with. Some of the props included Bella’s Loch Ness monster rant, Bella trying to squeeze ketchup out of an empty bottle and even the thunderous vampire baseball scene.
Senior animal sciences major Alexis Ireland was at the coloring pages table, shading in a photo of Bella and Edward. Ireland is not a fan of the franchise, but she stopped by the event after reading a sign that was in front of the library.
“I think a lot more students should come to the library because they always have fun stuff going on,” Ireland said. “Just the other week, there was a friendship bracelet-making thing that I went to that was fun. I think it’s just a good idea to come and hang out.”
