"Pride Fest is a combination of GAYpril, where a bunch of Rowan-affiliated organizations and programs come together to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community." - Features Editor / Paige Britt
On April 17, Rowan University’s Center for Belonging and Student Engagement club (BSE) collaborated with the Wellness Center to host the 8th annual Rowan Pride Fest and Bunce Hall Illumination at the University Green.
Pride Fest is a combination of GAYpril, where a bunch of Rowan-affiliated organizations and programs come together to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. This event allows Rowan students to show support for and celebrate the community, and it gives them a welcoming place to celebrate pride.
“We aren’t here during Pride month, so we celebrate GAYpril on campus. So, this is one of our big pride events that we try to do for everyone at Rowan every year. We just want to make it a safe, open, welcoming space for every student on campus. So, everyone is welcome, and I think we accomplished that today. We are very happy with the turnout,” said assistant director of BSE, Emmalee Holaday.
The Pride Fest allows Rowan students to make friends and bond by showing their support for the LGBTQ+ community. The event had food trucks and sweet treats along with some music to dance to.
“I think this is very beneficial for the university for two main important reasons. One, it shows that everyone gets to know everyone and that we are able to make connections, and that the university also is interacting with these connections. Because it is different when students do it on their own, but to know that there is a sense of faculty or administration being able to take part in it, and support and be here with one another, and having the BSE and the Wellness Center all coming together. It’s amazing, and it shows that they care just as much as we care,” said co-president of Rowan SOUL, Julia Fitzgerald.
The pride fest allows students to meet new people and gain new experiences. Hundreds of students, family members, and friends all come out to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
“I like the sense of safety you can feel. Everyone feels free to be themselves, and they are able to unwind and just be who their identity calls them to be, and I think that is a beautiful thing,” said Fitzgerald.
Rowan University allows these events to show that Rowan cares for the community. Hundreds of different organizations show their support for these students.
“I think this event is beneficial for the university, especially during times such as these, where we have so many changes under the current administration. I think that the university is showing an effort to keep a space for queer communities on campus and diverse communities on campus as well. I think it shows that Rowan is not backing down, no matter what, and they are here to welcome all,” said the president of Prism and junior at Rowan University, Mack Reilly.
Not only was there music and games, but Rowan University BSE club brought in a drag queen, Buttakup, to teach students a dance to the song “Abracadabra” by Lady Gaga at the end of the night.
“I teach dance outside of here. On the regular, I have my own company that I choreograph for, and so it’s really fun to kind of give back to the community and go back to my college roots and dance with the younger generation. I work with a lot of people my age, so it’s nice to kind of pass on those skills and give joy. I think sometimes drag queens are seen as such scary individuals, and I am just like one of y’all, I just have a wig on. At the end of the day, I am here to make the connections happen a little bit more authentically, and so there is more of a nice bridge between the communities,” said Buttakup.
Students were cheering them on and were giving their full attention to the students performing. Not only did the students perform, but Buttakup also performed a little show for the students.
“I think Rowan University is a really awesome campus. I am really thrilled to see such a big festivity for the queer community. College was not like this when I went to college 10 years ago. So, it is really refreshing to see everyone smile and be nice,” said Buttakup.
Buttakup reflected on the current political climate and what this event means to the community.
“This event is super beneficial. I think especially in this day and age, going through this kind of presidency we are living under. It’s super important to make sure that they know we are here and we are not going anywhere. And also, giving us space to those individuals where they are allowed to be their authentic selves and not have to shy in the shadows,” said Buttakup.
Students and organizations showed their enthusiasm and support for the community.
“I like going to all the different organizations’ tables and getting free stuff and finding out more stuff about what Rowan has to offer for the LGBTQ+ community. This event allows students to know that they have a lot of resources to go to if they want to embrace this side of themselves, and I loved that I got to interact with the drag queen,” said Grace Mejia, a freshman biology major.
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