Students from Boston University and several nearby schools took refuge in the Castle from the run-of-the-mill keg parties, clubs and movies that usually define a Saturday night.
Dressed in their finest evening gowns and suits, about 50 students dined on an assortment of hors d’oeuvres and pasta dishes and danced to R’B and hip hop music at Umoja’s annual semiformal ball, “A Night at the Castle.”
“This is a good way for people, especially those of color, to get dressed up, socialize and have a fun night out together,” said Fabiola Dieudonne, a junior in the School of Management and Umoja’s president.
Umoja members and a diverse group of friends attended the event, as did members of several local chapters of the Minority Engineers’ Society, including couples who won free tickets to the ball at the Engineers’ Society recent “Luv Auction.”
“Since it is open to the whole University, it gives the student body an opportunity to come and share a nice social evening with each other. That helps people understand one another better, to form relationships and build a better community here at BU,” said Reginald Pryor, the director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs and Umoja’s adviser. “Some students at BU have not really had the opportunity to get to know many African Americans, especially at this University.”
Pryor said he believes events such as this bring the African American population together, giving them a sense of unity while providing them and other students with a chance to learn about each other.
“Whenever I go out with my friends, I’m always the only black girl there. I have a lot of fun and enjoy going out with them, but sometimes it’s nice to socialize with people of my own background,” said Shawnea Frett, an SMG sophomore.
Umoja means “unity” in Swahili, and, according to organizers, that is exactly what this black student association was founded to provide.
“We focus on providing a chance for the small population of people of color on campus to unite,” Dieudonne said. “We also address many issues that pertain to black students at BU, often by bringing in speakers from the black community.”
Jesse Rijos, a senior in CAS, explained the ball is unique in that “while the demographics of the Back Bay Ball reflect this majority-white University, this is a very similar function, complete with similar food and drinks, but it is majority-black.”
Proceeds from the ball will be donated to the AIDS awareness group GOAL, which stands for Greater Options for Adolescent Lives.
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