This year’s annual formal, usually hosted solely by Salem’s Campus Activities Board (CAB), became a collaborative effort between CAB and our Black Student Union (BSU) in an exciting celebration of Black History Month. The theme was “jewels and jazz,” and the event took place on Feb. 27 at the Millennium Center downtown, giving students and their guests the opportunity to elegantly express themselves while paying homage to the 1920s Harlem Renaissance era of jazz and culture through outfits and decoration.
Planning an event like this takes an incredible amount of time and effort. However, they are often a source of immense pride and satisfaction for club leadership. CAB President Sydney Leggott shared that “The best part about CAB events is seeing the execution. We meet weekly for at least a month prior to the event, so seeing all of the hard work come together is so rewarding.” Samantha Smiley, BSU’s Public Relations Manager, echoed this sentiment. She said, “During the planning process, you spend a lot of time thinking about the details and how students will respond, but actually seeing everyone enjoying themselves made all the effort feel worth it.”
Behind the scenes, much preparation goes into determining the best use for event spaces and creating an appropriate atmosphere for partygoers to enjoy. “My favorite part about helping plan and execute the event was being involved in the preparation and setup before everything started,” Smiley said after mentioning how she helped get the Millennium Center ready for the party. “It was really rewarding to see the space transform from an empty venue into a fully decorated event.” Leggott gave a similar report, noting, “From the event space to the DJ to the food and drinks, it seemed to be highly enjoyed. I think this was one of CAB’s more aesthetically pleasing events, so the decoration methods will likely be seen again in the future.”
The DJ in particular proved to be as memorable as the night itself. King J The Dj (a.k.a. Joshua Gakeri) is a Winston-Salem State University student and was named 2023’s National Top HBCU DJ according to a 2023 article in HBCU Buzz by Nyah Peebles, “Top HBCU DJs 2023.” Campbell Kelly, a second-year student, expressed that “he was really interactive, which I liked. He really cared about what we wanted to hear.” And while the DJ, regrettably, did not actually play any jazz music and predictably stuck to our generation’s hits, the party was still electric with joy throughout the night thanks to his infectious enthusiasm for the party spirit. Kelly emphasized that “it’s important to have a good DJ. You’ve gotta have someone to hype it up, and I think he hyped us up really well.” She also expressed that the event was “up to party par… but, it’s kind of up to the people to make a party.” So, if you missed out on the event this year, don’t miss out again!
Looking to the future, CAB and BSU are both optimistic about collaborating again. Of course, there is always room for improvement, whether through ensuring sensory spaces are present or increasing easy access to water, but overall, CAB and BSU continue to impress us with their leadership and dedication to students’ enjoyment and inclusion here at Salem.
