With the first week of the semester checked off, the annual Black Light dance party begins.
As with previous Black Light dance parties held on campus, the event took place on a Thursday. The dance was held in the Ballroom of the Campus Center from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. All attendees were required to bring a donation of 3 canned goods in exchange for free entrance or pay $5 with a valid University of Massachusetts Boston ID. Admission without a UMB ID was $10.
The event’s aim was to raise awareness and donations for U-ACCESS, UMass Boston’s very own Office of Urban and Off-Campus Support Service. Their ultimate goal is to support students with basic necessities who are experiencing temporary homelessness, poverty, financial hardship, and other adversities that may make it difficult to do well in school.
The party raised approximately $1,000, from both the canned goods drive and money donated by attendees, said a member of Student Activities and Events Council.
Many students came to the dance in support of the cause. Most came for a fun night of dancing. Attendees dressed in white, as recommended, for the black light effect on white attire.
The dance featured DJ FEENO, playing top 40 hits like Justin Bieber’s “Sorry,” The Weeknd’s “In The Night,” and some classics like Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” and “Empire State of Mind” by Jay Z and Alicia Keys.
The dance was a good way to let loose, meet people, and spend some good quality time with friends before the stress of studying sets in. It resembled Boston’s nightlife, without the overpriced entry cost of the bars and clubs the city has to offer.
This event is one of many held by SAEC to bring life to UMass Boston’s commuter campus while also offering tangible support for its struggling students.
SAEC’s Annual Black Light Dance Party Donates to U-ACCESS
The university brought the glow sticks, music, and black lights, but the students brought the dance moves.
