Students get down Mardi Gras style

Live music filled the air as bright decorations hung above students celebrating a Mardi Gras-themed Valentine's Day Thursday night in the Dedes.

Collaborated by Spotlight Entertainment and the Indiana State University Union Board, the Mardi Gras celebration included a fortune teller, a caricature artist and the opportunity to make and receive personal valentines and balloon animals.

Lines grew quickly for each activity station as student attendance increased throughout the evening.

Brandon May, a freshman nursing major, waited in line for the fortune teller for over half an hour but did not complain.

"I came out to have fun, so that's what I'm going to do," May said.

Live entertainment was also provided. The line-up included ISU's steel drum band, a jazz performance and student musicians, including freshman accounting major Clarence Young, sophomore nursing major Andrew Miller and sophomore business administration major Christian Chapman.

"A lot of these bands were personal contacts that we worked with before," said sophomore public relations major and Spotlight Entertainment member, John Rudy. "We did a lot of Facebook outreach with them. They were really nice about everything."

Freshman communication major Elle Humbert worked alongside Rudy while booking the bands.

"We wanted to get the steel drum band and the jazz combo specifically to add to the New Orleans vibe of the event," Humbert said.

Coinciding with the theme, jambalaya and rice were on the menu for the night. Cupcakes and lemon bars were also provided.

"I had a lot of fun tonight," freshman communication major Victoria Pachauer said. "It was worth coming here."