Diamonds come in many shapes

Students were clad in suits, ties and evening gowns. The tables were decorated with small glass bowls of water with floating candles. There were silver, baby blue and black balloons strewn across the MSU Lounge floor. Members of the GCSU Jazz Band played tunes while students socialized and danced to the music.
Students floated across the floor, dancing to the smooth sounds of the jazz ensemble at the Black Student Alliance 10th annual Heritage Ball.
“We called it ‘Diamond in the Rough’ because, like raw diamonds, African-Americans were seen as something rough and without beauty, no value,” said Jessica Bean, senior international business major and chair of the Heritage Ball committee. “But through the pressure – slavery, racism, etc. – something beautiful and valuable was formed – a strong people who are showing the world that we’re valuable to society.”
The small jazz group played for the first half of the evening, and for the rest of the night, a laptop was used to play some of the latest music. Freshman psychology major and Heritage Ball Committee chairperson Melisa Coker said they weren’t able to get the same band from last year, but they found another to play.
Karla White, sophomore chemistry major and treasurer of BSA said the jazz music seemed fitting for the event.
“The jazz quartet seemed like a good fit for the Heritage Ball because jazz music played a major part in the evolution of African-American culture,” White said. “The jazz quartet at GCSU is stellar, and I was happy the committee asked them to be a part of the festivities.”
Although Coker said she was a little disappointed about the small turn-out, she thinks it turned out well.
“I think it was really good; I wish we had more people come out, but I also understand there were a lot of events on campus that night,” Coker said. “We had Dance Marathon, and people had to get their service and we also had retreats (that weekend).”
White said she thought the Heritage Ball went well this year.
Melvin Lattany, a senior biology major who attended, said he had a good time there.
“I thought it was nice,” Lattany said. “I thought it was a pretty okay turnout, not as good as I though it would be, (but) it was rather nice.”
Bean said she thought there was a good turn out, and she has heard that everyone enjoyed it. But one thing she wants people to know is that it is open to everyone.
“(It is) not just for BSA members or African-Americans. Next year, I would like to see greater diversity and the attendance double”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Mar 2 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry