By DORIAN SERRA
This past Friday night, October 27, clubs Black Students United (BSU), Latinx Voices (LV), and Beloit Trans Experience and Advocacy Association (TEAA) hosted the Spooky Ball in Grace’s Place on the lower level of Pearsons Hall.
This Halloween weekend event lasting over two hours between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. was centered around a costume contest. Sets of contestants strutted down the center orange LED lit catwalk and took their final poses on the corner stage. There, the presidents of each respective club judged those coming down towards them to create an elimination style bracket in order to select the night’s big winners.
BSU president and judge Alexis Ross‘24 was excited about the event as this is the first time it had happened in two years. It had previously been annual but scheduling and organization issues had prevented it in the recent past. After this year’s turnout, Ross both hopes and expects it to get right back on track. She had heard excitement around campus leading up to the ball, and was glad that the community delivered.
Using Grace’s Place as the location was both comfortable and successful. It is the location of BSU’s biweekly meetings, so they know the layout well. Titled the Center for Black Culture, Grace’s Place was developed by the college to “evoke and support a sense of community and belonging,” as written on its plaque at the entrance. This event takes advantage of the space and does just that.
LV president Aliza Ayala‘24 thought that the event really lived up to what it had been in the past. Ayala went as far as to say that it was “even better this year” than it was two years ago, and that “there is more participation” and “people are excited.” Magali Gray‘24 is the president of TEAA and was thrilled for their club to be able to participate in hosting the event. “We are happy to partner with the long standing cool clubs that are BSU and LV as a newer club ourselves,” said Gray.
With three executive boards all working together, organization was key. The ball was split into thematic categories. The first was Too Hot to Handle. Those who came to show off not only their costumes, but also their bodies and sex appeal were in this category. On stage with the presidents was a dedicated live commentator who was building energy with the crowd. The commentator said it best about this group, “they served cunt.”
This was not the only group to serve. The next up was Freestyle Vogue. As with all categories, this one allowed people to show off their costumes. These outfits were those more modernly fashionable and included expressive dance moves. Here we got to see people competing not just with their costumes but with their moves and their attitudes, a trend that lasted throughout the night.
Next up was Gore Galore, this category was for those who came with blood on their hands and hunger in their hearts. After this the tension in the air needed a little break, so up next was the Funniest Fright category. During this segment people with whimsical and goofy costumes took the stage, acting silly and theatrically with their moves.
The final official category was for the Para-Normal. This category was for the cliche costumes, stuff everyone has seen before but basic on purpose.
After each category had had its winner selected, the ultimate face off began. A short break later, the category crossover began. Among these were a boxer stripping every time he reached the stage, a cowgirl shedding props throughout, and even a cottagecore fairy. Not a single costume prevented one of these finalists from throwing everything they had at the judges, usually by throwing it back. The top three were all crowned winners and received Amazon gift cards on top of all the praise and worship they received while serving.
Featured Image Credit: AMLE
Leave a Reply