The Block is Hot, hosted by the Students For the Propagation of Black Culture, kicked off UCA Homecoming Week to boost student camaraderie at the Crafton Alumni Pavilion Oct. 23.
“Events like this, especially at the beginning of Homecoming Week, I believe, are essential,” associate director of the Office of Diversity and Community Tajaro Hudson said. “They help set the tone for the week [and] get students and faculty and staff excited.”
SPBC and the Office of Diversity and Community normally team up to put on the annual Greek Show, but they decided to throw an earlier event to make students get “in the spirit of homecoming,” Angela Jackson, director of the Office of Diversity of Community and homecoming committee member, said.
Angela Jackson said they originally planned to do a bonfire in place of The Block is Hot but had to call it off due to the Faulkner County burn ban, which was issued by County Judge Jim Baker Sept. 26.
Students video a dance battle. The event was held by the Students for the Propagation of Black Culture Oct. 23.
“This is our first time throwing this event, normally we would only have our Homecoming Greek Show during homecoming week but we thought having a block party would be a fun way to kick off Homecoming Week,” junior Imani Mbong, SPBC publicist, said.
Unlike the Greek Show, which encourages alumni involvement, the Block is Hot mainly targeted current students.
“Homecoming is about our alumni, right? But it’s also about our students,” Hudson said. “Events like these are one’s for our students to get them excited for homecoming because alumni [are] going to be excited regardless.”
DJ Dooley commanded the event with music, dance competitions and a couple games of musical chairs. The competitive events included three games of musical chairs — one where the players had to find a specific item before sitting down — and dance competitions versus Dooley and between other attendees.
The winners of the competitions were awarded money and other free giveaways provided by the UCA Bookstore and the Office of Diversity and Community. The Office of Diversity and Community provided free Block is Hot T-shirts to all attendees and food.
Dancers United performed at the event. Unlike last year, they did not have the opportunity to perform at the Homecoming Pep Rally this fall.
“We like to bring [Dancers United] into the mix to get them some exposure,” Hudson said. “They are open to anybody, but they are one of our minority dance groups so we like to give them the opportunity to show all their hard work.”
Hudson said their performance at the Block is Hot is also a way to “hopefully get more people to join.”
The event excited SGA freshman class representatives Tymera Marsh and Lyric Williams for the rest of homecoming. After attending The Block is Hot, they said they plan on going to everything that Homecoming Week has to offer.
Senior Deanna Jackson, a member with SPBC, also said this was a great event to “get everybody out of the house, get everybody pumped and ready for Homecoming Week, because most folks just stay in and wait for a party to kick off at night, whereas this is something safe, on campus where you can come have fun with your friends.”