While Black History Month has come to an end, the campus is still buzzing about the various events that took place during February to honor African American excellence and achievement.
The disco ball was in full effect in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion –also known as the Garret Center –for the Rhoyal Grooves and Finer Tunez Soul Train Remix. Thursday Feb. 15, 2018 the Zeta Phi Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. and the Phi Delta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. helped students travel through time and enjoy some of their favorite hits from the 80s to the early 2000s.
Many auras filled the room. President of the Phi Delta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Kailyn Bates said, “My main goal for this event was unity and I certainly felt very unified with my people.”
Adidas jogging suits, oversized white t-shirts, fanny packs and leg warmers all made an appearance at the Soul Train Remix. Everyone in attendance tried to participate in the costume aspect of the event.
Minority students and beyond came together. Collectively, everyone created an atmosphere of unity and appreciation. People laughed and even more people danced. There was conversation about people’s outfits and the musical selections.
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- Imani Evans dances with balloon.
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- Kameron Toney dances to the beat while paying tribute to his favorite fashion trend of the time.
Bates goal was reached according to Deana Fenn. Fenn said, “I really enjoyed the vibe of the entire night. The room was filled with unity; it made me appreciate my black community on campus more.”
There were over fifty people in attendance for the remix. The Garret C
enter –named after Dr. Romeo B. Garrett, the first African American professor at Bradley University –hosted more than people dancing. It hosted a night designed to help empower the campus through music.
MC Shaleese Pie, a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. by way of Zeta Phi, gave comic intermissions. Pie performed impersonations of the various characters she saw in the room. During a small technical difficulty with the music, Pie went front and center in the Soul Train line and began to freestyle dance moves. The crowd cheered her on.
MC getting ready to present another award.
(Shaleese Pie)
When asked the overall aim of the event, Vice President of the Zeta Phi Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. said, “We wanted to celebrate some of history’s most influential musical selections from black artists and pay homage to Soul Train. Many people don’t know the significance of Soul Train and we wanted people to walk away understanding its significance.
The ladies hosting the event added a twist to the original Soul Train –hence the remix. Students paid homage to past black excellence in music and acknowledged some of their current peers.
The community came together jam to some of their favorite throwback songs like Poison by Bell Biv DeVoe and Can You Stand the Rain by New Edition. Students paid homage to past black excellence in music and acknowledged some of their current peers.
Marceliano Briones taking a break from the fun to catch his breath.
The week leading up to the Soul Train Remix students were able to nominate their peers for various awards like: Most Outgoing Female/Male, Most Studios Female/Male, Most Fashionable Female/Male and Female/Male with the best smile. The most nominated student was awarded a small gold trophy and given the chance to give a small speech.
Aamir Mitchell won Best Dressed Male. Mitchell said, “I was totally not expecting this. This made my day.”
Aamir’s excitement was matched by many others in the room. Everyone made their way down the actual Soul Train line at least once, whether they clapped their hands or clutched their bags of chips and lemonade –which both coincidentally matched the décor of the evening.
As the event came to a close, students were able to request any of their favorite throwback songs that may not have been played. Anyone that requested a song had to dance down the soul train to keep the energy alive.
This is the second year this event has taken place, cohosted by both sororities. This surely shall not be the last. The Office of Diversity continues to work to bring cultural awareness to campus through interactive and meaningful events. Both organizations that cohosted the event were pleased on the turn out and thanked everyone for coming out.
Members of Bradley’s IFC attended the event for Grand Chapter points.