For the first time in more than two years the Student Government Association (SGA) hosted the Block Party and Lip Sync Competition and was able to feature the promised bonfire. For the last two years inclement weather and burn bans have kept the bonfire from happening, but this year it was a success.

The party kicked off with the lighting of the bonfire at 7:15 p.m. as students crowded around to escape the chilly weather.  The entire event was held in the field on North Campus between the Alumni Center and the University Center on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.

The Lip Sync Competition began and groups of student organizations were judged based on creativity, choice in music, lip sync ability, costumes and crowd response. Students seemed to have a great time at the party.  

“The party was amazing,” said Alex Rogers, a business administration junior. “Good music, good performances.”

The final performer of the night and winner of the first place position, the NAACP, was certainly a crowd pleaser.  Their performance featured the “Wizard of Oz,” including Dorothy, the wicked witch, the tin man, scarecrow and the cowardly lion. The cowardly lion represented Roomie, as he needed courage from the Wizard to defeat the Bearkats in the big Homecoming game on Saturday.

“We decided to go to Kansas because we wanted to do the ‘Wizard of Oz,'” said Shawndreka Gatlin, a fashion merchandising junior who played Dorothy’s character for the NAACP. “I’ve never really done this before and everyone really came together.”

“I thought it was great,” said William Takewell, Chief Justice of SGA and Co-chair for Homecoming. “It seemed like the organizations that participated this year went all out. The numbers were really close.”

The night ended around 8:30 p.m. with the announcement of the winners of the Lip Sync Competition. NAACP took first place for their “Wizard of Oz” number while Phi Mu and Delta Tau Delta took second with their theme of “Miami.” Alpha Omicron Pi and Sigma Tau Gamma took third place with the theme of “Graceland.”

“Everyone that participated should be really, really proud of themselves,” said Takewell.