Bingo is back!
Brookdale’s monthly bingo nights returned for the fall semester with the first game being held on Sept. 26.
The popular event typically draws many participants. During several of last year’s bingo nights, it would get so loud that staff members had to shout to quiet the mob of desperate players.
And yes, they get desperate. This is because over the course of the night, players have the chance to win one of many prizes from gift cards to Brookdale clothing and merchandise. Squishmallows have been among the most sought-after prizes.
Along with the prizes is the attraction of free food. At the most recent bingo, staff rolled into the room with several stacks of pizza boxes at about 6:15 p.m., and those that were there were told they could line up for pizza at 6:25 p.m. There was also canned soda, small water bottles, and a range of small chip bags.
It should be said that the 6:30 p.m. start time for bingo is not a strict deadline. It was not until 6:45 p.m. that Nicole Ross, associate director of Transfer Pathways, was introduced. Ross announced that along with the prizes on the table, there would be another group of prizes. These would be won by students who could answer trivia questions on transferring and Brookdale’s transfer program. These prizes were donated by 4-year schools from across New Jersey.
Andre Quispe, a student staff member, worked bingo night. His job was to take down student names and pass out paper bingo boards and ink markers. Quispe has also played and won several bingo games before.
“I won a popcorn machine, and I won a Baby Yoda waffle maker,” Quispe said of his past hauls.
As for the actual game, it was as intense as it was long. Each student was given 10 small sheets, and most sheets went through 3 or 4 games. The fierce energy in the room stayed consistent through most of the night.

Anytime someone called bingo, dozens of other students screamed out in defeat. After the first prize of the night was won – a Pizza Slice Squishmallow – the room shook with the shouts of sore losers.
Every time a number was announced, participants would anxiously scan their sheets. Paper plates, bottles, soda cans and sheets soaked in ink piled in the middle of tables. Students introduced to one another for the first time at 6:30 p.m. would see each other’s most competitive side by 7 p.m.
This brings us to the biggest benefit of Brookdale’s bingo night — connecting students with each other. There are only so many tables at bingo night, so when students join another group, they will be there the whole night eating, screaming and losing together. Some of the tables had at least one winner among them, and when that singular person would jump up to announce they had achieved the unachievable, the rest of their table would rejoice.
Bingo finally ended a little after 9 p.m. The blood-thirsty nature of the students finally dwindled in the last half hour, leaving many exhausted by the time the last prize was won.
Thomas Liu, an international student from Taiwan studying computer science, won a specialty item – a Lava Lamp. When asked if that is what he expected to win, he answered: “Not really, but that’s nice. I need a lamp in my room so that’s pretty nice.” Liu also revealed that this was his second bingo ever, making him one of the luckier players.
Before Liu, Kevin Payne – another student staff member – was asked about his role during the games. Payne was one of three student staff members who got the privilege to read some of the bingo numbers. Payne just so happened to be the last winner of the night, taking home the largest prize, the Strawberry Cupcake Squishmallow.

Toward the start of the night, when Payne was calling numbers, he was also able to pick the next prizes, and he had an interesting way of doing this, by following mob rule. More specifically, he hovered his hand over prizes one by one and picked the next prize by how loud attendees cheered. In fact, Thomas Liu’s Lava Lamp was chosen through this method.
It was also through this madness that Payne was quoted as saying to the entire crowd: “The board comes second, I come first,” implying his power was greater than that of the numbers being called out. This only brought more excitement, with added cheering and words being thrown back and forth between Payne and some players.
“That was like a joke, like pay attention to the me and not your winning numbers, ya know?” Payne said later. At the end of the day, his words represent how students should go about bingo night. Crowds of players come to the Navesink Rooms once a month and create an intensely hectic competitive environment, but it’s best enjoyed when not taken so seriously.
The bingo games are one of Brookdale’s most attended student life activities. The games regularly draw over 100 students – a mix of those who registered beforehand and walk-ins.
The next bingo will be taking place on Wednesday, Oct. 23, in the Navesink Rooms starting at 6:30 p.m. It will be Halloween themed, so if anyone plans to attend that one, feel free to wear your Halloween costume. However, costumes are not required