NAACP chapter hosts V-day mixer

By Emily Roman

Published Feb. 15, 2008

The MU chapter of the NAACP held its first spring semester event, a pre-Valentine’s Day social, on Wednesday at the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center.

About 65 students attended the social to listen to music, meet new people around campus, enjoy free food and drinks, participate in events for singles and couples, collect prizes and have a good laugh or two.

“We are more of a political activist organization, and we decided to kick off the first event this semester with something fun and social,” said Madonna Corbett, vice president of MU’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Corbett said the event was geared toward the minority community at MU to bring them together in a fun and social way.

“We wanted to throw something fun and also at the end bring something serious to discuss like relationships, obstacles and having faith in each other,” President Brian Washington said.

The first activity was the “Speed Meet and Greet,” in which participants mingled and became acquainted with new faces.

Next was “The Couples’ Dating Game” in which selected couples competed for the title of “The Perfect Couple.” The person proved to know his or her significant other the best was given gift certificates, gift bags and movie passes. All of the other couples were given 1980’s music mixes.

At the end of the game, senior and MU football player Pig Brown and senior Jasmine Bourne won “The Perfect Couple” title.

Then it was time for the singles to find their perfect matches. Seven male and seven female contestants sat blindfolded in rows facing each other.

They each asked a question for each person of the opposite sex to answer. In the end, the judges chose people they said would be compatible together and chose the most compatible couple. They awarded runner-up couples with movie passes. They gave winners junior Chris Wilson and sophomore Ashley First dinner and a movie as a prize.

The final activity of the night was a forum about relationships on MU’s campus. Washington said the group would discuss healthy relationships, staying true to each other, obstacles with relationships and how to “put love first.”

Sophomore Orvil Savery came to the event to “show my support for the black community.” Savery said he has always supported the black community and was pleased with the turnout.

“And the cookies didn’t hurt,” Savery said.

Washington said the event was something of an “ice breaker” for other serious and enjoyable events that will be held throughout the rest of the semester.

Junior Jennifer Claxton said she participated because she has a lot of friends who are involved in NAACP.

“It is good to see other people supporting NAACP when NAACP supports everyone else,” Claxton said.