Black Family Reunion

Students mingled with familiar faces and met new friends while basking in spring-like weather at the First Annual Louisiana State University and Southern University Black Family Reunion.
“I have seen so many people that I haven’t seen in years!” exclaimed Fred Batiste, a Southern graduate student. “This event has the makings of being something big.”
Over 500 students flooded the LSU parade grounds on Saturday, February 16 to enjoy food, games, contests, giveaways, and entertainment.
“We wanted to have something that brought black students from both universities together,’ said Niki Morrow, event coordinator from LSU. “Since February is Black History Month we thought that this would be the perfect opportunity.”
Sororities and fraternities represented their respective chapters with their best struts and trains while members of LSU’s Theta Kappa Chapter and SU’s Beta Sigma Chapter of Omega Psi, Fraternity, Inc. battled it out in a friendly game of flag football.
“It’s nice to see how everyone has united considering the fact that Southern and LSU are in the same town but rarely do things together,” said Yolonda Collins, a member of LSU’s Eta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
The crowd was entertained by several local artists including the Smith-Brown Memorial Union “Look” Dancers, hip hop/spoken word artist Ike Netters, and the Hip-Hop Nation.
The event also showcased R&B group Diamond and New Orleans rapper Kilo hyped the crowd with the sounds of New Orleans bounce music.
Terral Jackson Jr. of Perfect Ten Productions LLC along with WQUE 93.3 DJ “Wild Wayne” emceed the event.
The highlight of the afternoon came when Jackson led the entire crowd in a massive performance of Entourage’s ‘Bunny Hop.”
“This is a beautiful thing!” said SU junior Sean Wilson. “They should have this every year.”
According to coordinators, plans are already being made to make the LSU and SU Black Family Reunion an annual event.
“It took us about two months to plan this event and the sponsors were very supportive,’ said Branndii Peterson, a coordinator from SU.
Supporters of this event include: SU Student Government Association, LSU Black Student Union, SU Association of Women Students, SU Men’s Federation, NAACP, LSU Black History Month Committee, Verizon, Max 94.One, Nu Psi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Theta Kappa and Beta Sigma Chapters of Omega Psi Phi Fraternities, Inc., Alpha Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Iota Theta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Flii-Spring Break Bahamas 2002, Villians Paradise Records, Perfect Ten Productions LLC, and LA Rhythms.