On the first day of December there was a queer scene in the UniversityCenter. It was as if one just walked into the Canterbury Tales or a Monty Python act.  Students, house fellows, faculty members, and children were dressed up in medieval costumes and surrounded by jugglers.  They were all there for the Madrigal Dinner, which was put together by Student Affairs, the Activities Board, Student Senate, and Dining & Housing Services.  The guests were mostly Carnegie Mellon students, faculty, staff, and their families.

Thomas Witholt, coordinator of Student Activities, presented a warm welcome with a British accent followed by an etiquette lesson.  The food was accompanied with musical performances by students in the College of Fine Arts.  The three-course meal included a salad with challah bread, an entrée with choice of beef or vegetables, and a dessert.  The songs performed had a holiday undertone, featuring songs from Spain, Britain, Poland, and Russia.

The highlights of the Madrigal Dinner included a Jester, the Royal Court, and the Royal Magicians.  The comical performance of the Jester, played by CFA Junior Terry Boyd, attracted a crowd of kids.  The Royal Court was gracefully clothed in costumes provided by the Drama Department, while Professor Karen Stump, who went by Professor Stumpeldore at the dinner, performed her favorite magic tricks – those that involve chemistry.

Worth noting was the evidence of a lot of undertakings that went into making the event happen.  All tables were named after people involved in the preparation of the big show, such as "CasalegnoCastle" (referencing Gina Casalegno, the director of Student Activities) and "ThompsonTower" (MCS Senior Kaylie Thompson). All the servers were in costumes and the entire Rangos Ballroom was festively decorated.  For a nice dining experience and an evening of festivities, the 12-dollar student tickets were very affordable and were of great value, especially since they could be paid for with DineX.

Just when the semester is coming to an end and students are feeling negatively towards the massive amounts of work they have received from their professors, the feast served as a nice reminder of all the fun times we have had over the course of the semester.  Though a bit long (two and a half hours, not including an hour of reception), the dinner was enjoyable and a great overall experience.

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