The sound of fingers snapping and a saxophone playing greeted spectators as they walked through the doors of the second floor lounge in the MSC Thursday night, Feb. 23. Soultry Night Sessions, sponsored by Sigma Alpha Iota and Phi Mu Alpha, began at 7 p.m. and lasted well into the night.The event kicked off with a poem by Rhonda Jackson en-titled “Leave the Ghetto,” followed by a song. With the mic open to all, several students chose to perform poems and songs. Tanisha Preacher, performed a piece called “That Night,” a poem previously featured in The Panther. Groups such as Dalynisse, a group formed by Catherine Burnley, Krystle Curtis and Shirona Session, performed original songs they had written that brought the audience to their feet. After the open mic session, the band and the host finished out the night to the joy of spectators. The experience was enjoyable for thosee in attendance.
The function proved to be a truly interactive experience, with the crowd becoming as involved as the performers themselves. Music appeared to tie the entire event together. Softly, it played in the background accompanying poets and entranced listeners when paired with the melodic voices of students. Heads swayed, fingers snapped, and feet tapped as the students soaked in the relaxing atmosphere. “It’s such a positive thing to be around so many talented people who can come together and have a good time just appreciating the beauty of poetry and song,” says Brittany Grant, a sophomore psychology major, “Being a part of that is what makes events like this worthwhile.”
Chris Mitchell, a junior music education major, proved to be equally as talented on the keyboard as he was on the saxophone. Soon the audience was grooving to tunes such as Flashlight by George Clinton. From wall to wall, the lounge came alive with noise blaring from speakers, the sound of drums and warm bodies doing the electric slide. As the night progressed, the music changed to a rap genre and the electric slide became the modern dances of today. With encouragement from the host, the evening once again resumed its relaxing atmosphere and the event ended leaving its members satisfied. “We wanted it to be a successful event and it was,” says Stefanie Ward, a senior marketing major, “be on the lookout for more.