HIMSI’s Welcoming Party is an annual event to celebrate and welcome the freshmen into our beloved English Department, including its Student Association (HIMSI/Himpunan Mahasiswa Sastra Inggris). This year’s event was held on Saturday, 26th September 2026, at Creative Space Binus University @Syahdan

The theme varies every year, and this year’s welcome party theme was Dark Academia. It embodied our love for literature and romanticized the start of their higher academic journey. Both B29s and B30s gave their hand in bringing that theme to life.

The Master of Ceremonies, HIMSI Activists Amalia Azim and Maharani Humaira Jatnika, opened the event at 12 P.M. with their attempt at British accents. Those British Accents continued later with speeches from this year’s welcome party project manager, Ratu Imara Nyah Maliki, followed by HIMSI’s president, Salma Nur Paramitha, and HIMSI’s Student Organization Advisor, Ms. Criscentia Jessica Setiadi.

After hearing those wonderful speeches, HIMSI’s BoM (Board of Management) presented materials about HIMSI and Creative Digital English, filled with further introductions about our major and student associations, including its future events and what to expect if and when they become activists. 

After all those speeches, the MCs started off the amusements with a game of trivia with questions about the department, linguistics, and book authors. When a freshman answers correctly, they will receive fake money that will come in handy later in the afternoon when they bid for items. The time passed by so quickly, and it was time for a break. 

During the break, the freshmen partook in an activity called “Hidden in Plain Sight” where they could explore the Creative Space in search of hidden money and keys to aid them during the auction. They also indulged in some pizza, chips, and drinks while having conversations with their seniors and Ms. Jess. Building the connection and bridging the gap between one another, trying to show the freshmen our department’s familial community. 

While that was happening, some decided to do light karaoke to fill the time; from old-time classics to recent pop songs, they sang their hearts out. A couple of them also took photos in the photobooth available to record these fun moments. 

When the break ended, we went back to the amusement, starting with mirror charades. The event division divided the freshmen into three groups and had the three groups appoint 2 people each to be their charades actors.  Only one of the actors knew the words, while the other one didn’t and simply had to “mirror” the other actor’s actions. The audience also only had a view of the mirror actor, making it a complicated and confusing, but very fun game. Some of the words that were acted out included vampire, werewolf, and even Sir Irfan. The winning group received 200 CDE dollars each, and the group that came in second received 100 dollars each. 

The next game that they played was musical statues. We played songs that the participants had to dance to, starting off with BAD by ATEEZ and many others, but when the music stopped, everyone had to freeze. Anyone who was even a little bit off balance and had to move was disqualified, and only the final 3 contestants received 200 dollars each as their prize. 

The final event of the day was the auction. Everyone had a chance to use the money that they had found hidden around the room or won from games to bid on prizes which included a tumbler, a leather pencil case, a cute cat plushie with a light up camera, a music box that played the Harry Potter theme song, and the best prize in the auction; a beautiful, pirate themed, leather notebook which ended up selling for over 2,000 dollars after a fierce bidding war. 

And with that, our event comes to an end.

May their days here at Creative Digital English be filled with an abundance of laughter, friendship, and memories just as it was here during the B30 Welcoming Party.

May they all find joy in every corner, courage in every challenge, and companions who make their journey all the brighter. And when the day comes to bid them farewell, may they look back upon your days here with fondness.