Stony Brook University hosted its eighth annual Light the Brook event on November 3, marking the beginning of the holiday season with a record number of attendees. The celebration drew three times as many participants as last year, bringing together students, faculty, and staff for an evening filled with food, crafts, and musical performances before lighting up the Academic Mall.
Rick Gatteau, vice president for Student Affairs at Stony Brook, recounted how the tradition began: “They came to me and said, ‘we really want to do something to brighten the campus during these months when it’s cold, dark, and depressing,’” Gatteau said. “It started in a very small way and we lit up the tree and had an a capella group perform. Since then it’s gotten bigger and better every year.”
This year's festivities included s’mores grills, club tabling activities, light-themed crafts, hot chocolate stations, and performances from student groups such as the Pipettes and High C’s a cappella ensembles, The Vocalists all-gender vocal group, and Music & Medicine.
“This crowd is the largest group I’ve ever seen for Light the Brook,” Gatteau noted. “Our strength at Stony Brook is the community that we build together, and there’s no better way to celebrate community than at events like this.”
Gatteau also acknowledged support from both the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and the Division of Student Affairs.
USG President Sarah Elbaroudy ’27 spoke about what makes Light the Brook meaningful: “This event is one of my favorite traditions at Stony Brook, because it captures everything that makes this university so special — the energy, the unity and the sense of belonging that we create together,” she said. “When you look around tonight, you’ll see hundreds of lights and faces from every corner of campus, each representing the power of our community. What makes Stony Brook shine isn’t just what we’re about to light, but the people who make this campus feel like home through our differences and our shared purpose. We’ve built a campus defined by resilience, compassion and pride. Whether you’re a first-year student or senior getting ready to graduate, a faculty member, a staff member or a member of the community, you’re part of a story that’s much bigger than yourself, and one that continues to grow brighter every year.”
Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith echoed these sentiments: “Light the Brook is an example of what a special university this is,” she said. “No matter what happens, we bond together and we celebrate the amazing light of Stony Brook University. No matter what’s happening, how hard your finals are, or what’s going on in your work or families, we can come together and make light happen here at this university.”
Goldsmith reflected on her own experience joining Stony Brook: “The first day I came to Stony Brook was in the middle of winter in January,” she recalled. “It was a very cold day but everyone I met was so warm and so welcoming. Tonight, and in the space of the dark winter months that are to come these lights remind us that we are a community that exudes warmth to everyone around us; I want to thank you for giving me that incredibly warm welcome that I’ve experienced here at Stony Brook. And that’s really what these lights represent; warmth togetherness and the power of this community.”
Aneil Persaud from Student Affairs Events highlighted how Light the Brook has grown: “Light the Brook gives us a community of warmth light and connectedness as we enter the colder months of year,” he said. “It has been really exciting seeing growth this program now showcasing more student performances lighting course hot chocolate than ever.”
Elbaroudy added: “Every light that's about turn on represents people who make university come alive... Light Brook symbol community showing up each other celebrating one another remembering heart Stony lies its people... May this light carry us through finals through winter right into new year reminder no matter what facing never alone.”