Students were taken back in time Friday evening at Weber State University when the WSU Student Association transformed the Shepherd Union Ballrooms into a world of spandex, neon and ’80s butt rock.
The WSUSA Wildnights series presented its annual ’80s Neon Party, themed Forever Young this year. It was a night for traditional students to experience a small glimpse of what the ’80s were like, and some nontraditional students were reminded of their childhood years. Student senate president Brady Harris said it is one of the events WSUSA puts on that has grown and evolved each year.
“It’s just one of those events people get excited about and really sticks out in people’s minds,” Harris said. “Students want to come and get all ’80-ed out and everything. I think it is one of the highlight events and one that I like to come to.”
Students could feel the vibrations from the bass as they walked up the sidewalk to the union building. DJ Marcus Wing kept attendants dancing by playing from multiple genres, stopping on occasion to tell the crowd he was excited to be at WSU.
“It’s always nice to be able to DJ for a built-in crowd and new faces that don’t always come to events,” Wing said. “I know a lot of people who go here (to WSU), so it’s cool to be at Weber.”
Wing plays at many Utah colleges and universities and also does a tour called the Uprising Paint Fight that travels through Utah, Colorado and Arizona. More information about the tour is available on the Uprising website and on Facebook.com/Iammarcuswing.
WSU sophomore Nicole Brewer said she loves coming to the WSUSA events and thinks everyone should come out and join in.
“It’s awesome, better than last year,” Brewer said. “The DJ is a lot better, and I tell everyone they should come out and have a great time.”
As students danced the night away, big projector screens played MTV music videos from the ’80s, such as some from Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Bell Biv Devoe and MC Hammer.
Ballroom A had couches and chairs where students could relax. The event also featured artists to give students airbrush tattoos with hundreds of designs, a photo booth to capture a moment with friends, and an oxygen bar where participants had five minutes at a time and could choose from a variety of oxygen flavors.
“The oxygen bar is something I haven’t done before, and I have always wanted to know what it was like,” said WSU journalism senior Stephen Cogan. “It was quite entertaining. It’s almost like you’re smelling a very powerful candle, but it’s getting pumped into your nose. I tried cherry, wintergreen, wild orange. I loved it.”
Ballroom C was open for dancing. Joseph Lind, WSU electronic engineering major, took advantage of the wide-open space to show off his gymnastics and break-dancing skills.
“I came to campus to kick it up and keep it fun,” Lind said. “I’ve been to one other WSUSA event, and if you like dancing and hitting a good beat, this is the event to come to.”
Aaron Newman, the director of Student Involvement and Leadership and associate director of the Shepherd Union, said WSUSA has been working hard to create exciting events for students. He said he was pleased there was such a big turnout and that students seemed to be having a great time.
The dance had an estimated 600 attendants, yet only three contestants came forward for the Richard Simmons look-alike contest hosted at the dance. WSU sophomore Sam Burnett, wearing red exercise shorts and a WSU tank top, said he was excited that he ranked second in the contest.
“I won second place, yeah!” Burnett said. “I think everyone should give a dance a least one try. It’s a lot of fun, and you can meet people.”
