Dina Massery, a Hofstra alumna and host, alongside the Black Student Union at Roar Rally. // Photo courtesy of University Relations.
As part of inauguration week for Hofstra President Susan Poser, Roar Rally showcased on- and off-campus talent to celebrate Hofstra students’ talents, identities and unity the night of Thursday, Sept. 30.
Black Student Union (BSU) and the Division of Student Affairs collaborated on the event, according to Lauren Wood, a senior dance education major and vice president of BSU.
“BSU usually does a unity showcase, which is like a talent showcase, but because it is inauguration week [,] we wanted to speed it up a bit because it is usually at the end of the semester,” Wood said. “We wanted to partner so that it was a lead-up to Fall Fest and the inauguration and have a good week.”
Among the wide variety of student performers, Roar Rally also included a performance by Kamilla Kockman, resident drag queen at Fire Island bar Cherry’s on the Bay.
Dina Massery, a Hofstra alumna who graduated in 2010, hosted the event and announced that the first place winner would be given $1,000; second place would be given $750 and third place would win $500. Additionally, all winners would be granted $500 each to donate to a charity of their choice.
Massery introduced the judging panel, which consisted of Adrienne Kravitz, associate director of Campus Recreation, Darlene Johnson, director of external relations at the Center for Career Design and Development and Ginny Greenberg, director for University Relations.
“You could see that [the student groups] put a lot of time and thought into their performances and they rallied the students behind them,” Greenberg said. “It made me feel good to be here and to see them perform and see the students cheer each other on.”
The Hofstra Dance Team came in first place, second place was TranscenDANCE and the Hofstra Dutchmen took third.
“This is the first time we have been able to perform on a stage in front of such a large crowd in a while,” said Christopher Morgan, a junior computer science major and singer for the Dutchmen. “We were really excited to be here and we will take any opportunity we can to perform for our adoring fans.”
The Dutchmen enjoyed being able to perform live again as well as the monetary benefits of their win. “It feels like we have just paid off the debt we incurred to make an album,” Morgan said.
The Dutchmen’s new album, “At Home with the Dutchmen,” is available on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube Music, according to Morgan.
Audience members also enjoyed the performances, especially in light of the pandemic.
“I thought everyone here did a really good job,” said Kellie Smith, a junior political science and economics double major. “It really exposed me to how much talent there is on campus, especially because last year everything was shut down.”
Emma Husk, a senior English education major, shared a similar sentiment.
“I loved it,” Husk said. “You could tell that everyone on the stage really wanted to be there.”