By Roni Bailey and Ash Johnson; contributions by AJ Hunter
The Black Student Union (BSU) hosted the Brown Sugar Ball on April 11 from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Colloms Campus Center in the Johnson Event Center.
The Brown Sugar Ball was organized to create a space for students to connect and celebrate culture and community on campus.
“The purpose is to have an end of the year celebration with old and new friends,” explained BSU President Roni Bailey. “Our main goal as an organization was to just make sure that everyone had a good time.”
Students came together for a night of music, dancing, and celebrating the end of the semester. Attendees followed the theme by wearing shades of brown or white dressy outfits paired with sneakers. Admission to the event was $5. All profits, in turn, are put into the organization account for BSU’s future events.
Students were greeted at the entrance by BSU Secretary Jay Ellis and Treasurer Ajaye Hunter who welcomed guests in with a smile and took pictures as they arrived. As people began entering the dance floor, they walked on the gold carpet to see everyone having a good time.
Guests were also able to enjoy a selection of finger foods provided during the event. The menu included chicken fingers, sandwiches, fruit, and a charcuterie board, giving attendees a chance to grab a snack while spending time with friends.
One of the most popular spots of the evening was a balloon display set up as a photo backdrop made by Vice President Samantha DeGrace. Throughout the night, students gathered around the display to take photos and capture memories from the event.
The BSU council took two days to set up the Johnson Event Center for this event, to make sure the room matched not only the aesthetic, but the feeling of a magical night with others.
Around 9 p.m., the atmosphere inside the event center became more energetic as the music picked up and students began filling the dance floor. The party quickly became lively, with many attendees dancing and enjoying the music together. As the night continued, the dancing intensified, with Dontae Campbell drawing attention from the crowd with his energetic moves.
Later in the evening, BSU hosted an awards segment recognizing students for their participation and style during the event. Kamaurian Frierson and Sariyah Cox were among the students recognized as Mr. & Ms. Brown Sugar Ball.
Organizers Samantha DeGrace, Lauren Nickerson, Roni Bailey, and Dr. Lynnete Smith coordinated the event and hope it will continue to grow in the future as BSU plans more events for students, such as “a cookout to start the year off in the fall semester.”
With financial and community support, BSU can continue to host events and support POC students.
