Twinkle lights hang from the trees, the scent of Buffalo Chicken Dip fills the air, and students dance the night away. This just about sums up the Welcome Back Dance on Friday, September 4, at the Athletic and Fitness Center Patio.
Students arrived sporadically, with some of the ladies wearing evening dresses and the men sporting a tie and dress shirt. The event was catered by Parkhurst Dining and featured assortments of appetizers including cheese and crackers, fruits and the crowd favorite, Buffalo Chicken Dip accompanied by warm pita chips. A Chatham event wouldn’t be complete without some sweets. Two whole platters of brownies and purple sugar cookies were enough to cure even the most stubborn sweet tooth.
The Office of Residence Life and Student Activities-Student Affairs sponsored the dance, where Student Activities student workers acted as the hosts. Late Night Coordinator, sophomore Jorjanna Smith, greeted dance attendees and offered them tasty appetizers with her counterpart, sophomore Maya Carey, who was the creative brain behind decorations for the evening.
“The lights and lanterns were really awesome. They really brought some life to the patio” said first-year Iris Marzolf.
Many of the dance attendees waited in anticipation for the announcement of the results from the Residence Hall Council Elections (RHC). Coordinator of Residence Life and Student Activities Emily Fidago delivered the news. The Residence Hall Council officials for each hall are as follows:
CHATHAM APARTMENTS
President: Jesse Hinkle
Secretary/Treasurer: Jacquelyn Stanfield
Communications Coordinator: Gino Peluso
Programming Coordinator: Haley Porterfield
Sustainability Coordinator: Rachael Oplinger
FICKES HALL
President: Rosemary Quintana
Secretary/Treasurer: Imani Constant
Communications Coordinator: Diamond Ricketts
Programming Coordinator: Mikayla Psenick
Sustainability Coordinator: Nichole Dahlen
REA & LAUGHLIN
President: Abby Beckwith
Secretary/Treasurer: Noah Smith
Communications Coordinator: Suzi Nanthavong
Programming Coordinator: London Pipkins
Sustainability Coordinator: Evalynn Farkas
WOODLAND HALL
President: Carsyn Smith
Secretary/Treasurer: Taylor Frankenstein
Communications Coordinator: Lindsey Bost
Programming Coordinator: Noah Thompson
Sustainability Coordinator: Holly Taylor
The dance had a low turn out but that did not stop those who were there from having a good time. First-Year student Derrick Robinson said the low attendance was an actual highlight of the event itself.
“It amazed me how little people were there but yet [we] still had fun and made the most out of the experience,” said Robinson.
The dance did feature a DJ who played a mixture of current songs and throwbacks, including “Where Are U Now,” “Bad Blood,” “Wobble” and “Get Low.”
One throwback in particular really got the party going: “The Cupid Shuffle.”
“It was my favorite song of the night because it got everyone up and moving and it’s just a really fun song,” said Marzolf.
At around 11 p.m., a group of students took to the Carriage House with leftover Buffalo Chicken Dip and pita chips — the perfect snack for watching “Sweeney Todd” — and the student workers began taking down the decorations. The Chatham After Hours event ended and everyone left the AFC energized and ready for the new school year.