Though it was hot outside and the threat of rain seemed possible at any moment, it did little to dampen the mood of the Back 2 School Jam. This annual event is the first function of the year hosted by the Black Students Board (BSB). As throwback music was being played in the background, students welcomed one another back after a long summer to catch up on lost time and to express excitement about the upcoming school year and all that had been missed out on.
Freshmen made their way around to the tables around Harris Field to obtain more information about what the different organizations are about and what they represent and hopefully gained more knowledge and insight on the brave new world that is North Carolina State University. “This is a great event for new students to receive new information about the different organizations available to them at NC State,” said Ashleigh Lockhart, a sophomore in Chemistry and a member of the Society of Afrikan-American Physical and Mathematical Scientists (SAA-PAMS). Women Empowering Society Together (WEST), College of Humanities and Social Sciences Multicultural Association for Students (CHASS-MAS), and the Society of Afrikan American Culture (SAAC) were some of the other organizations that populated the field during the event.
As the first group to come to the stage, Uninhibited Praise Gospel Choir performed two songs. Next up was Black Finesse Modeling Troupe, who with their black, red, and white color theme, modeled to songs such as Ciara’s “Work” and absolutely worked the runway. The performance of the third act by the Xi Zeta Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. gained the attention of the spectators and drew them closer to the stage.
Afterwards, Commercial Break showed off some of their dance moves while “jerking” around. Up and coming artist M-Bass serenaded the crowd with some of his own music. In a move that left many in the audience surprised, the Eta Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. threw one dollar bills on stage and on the ground that had some scrambling to grab the money after the initial shock had worn off; they later wowed everyone even more when they bought out a real live snake on stage while performing. DanceVisions followed up this act with a dazzling and energizing performance of their own. The Kappa Xi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. was the last group to perform and in true fashion, made themselves about the ladies and handed individual roses to women in the audience.
So with the Jam underneath our belts, the new school year is going to be live and in effect with various new activities and challenges as usual. Fortunately for us, it’s only the beginning and the best is yet to come.
