By: Noah Nunez
General Reporter
On Thursday, Sept 24. the back of Jess Dow Field was filled with the screams and roars of a friendly flag football game helmed by Residence Hall Association. The event itself called “Powder Puff,” was held to get girls moving and active during the return to a normal football season and because student interest was there.
The event was organized by healthcare studies major Shanell Thompson, a senior, and nursing major Kaylee Rivera, a sophomore.
“We like to listen to the students, and I know a lot of students are into sports and stuff, and I just wanted a different event,” Thompson said. “A lot of people were on board with it, and then I got a lot of population going now.”
The interest in this event was shared by one of the organizers, who was a football fan herself and wanted to celebrate the return and start of a new sports season.
“I’m a football fan; I’m a Giants fan,” Rivera said. “But you know, football season did start, so we were like, why not just make a football event? Like turn things up at Southern, you know, just get things up and going.”
There were two teams of girls with six players on each, being coached by the boys who volunteered to help with the event. With enjoyment as the goal of the event, people were invited to sit and watch or join in on the game itself, with both sides having their ups and downs to psychology major Ariana Lecates, a senior.
“I think participating is really fun, but it can get stressful, and the supporting is the best thing ever because I love chanting, cheering on everybody, coaching everybody from the sides. I think both is super fun,” Lecates said.
An unavoidable side effect of the event, however, was the weather spectators found themselves in. The night itself was rather cold, with many people wearing multiple layers so early into spring, but to some, this was not an issue.
Physics major Chloe Pearson, a freshman, did not seem to mind the circumstances.
“We do midnight walks like me and my dormmates; we walk at like 1 a.m., so we don’t really mind the dark,” Pearson said.
A surprise during the event occurred, however, when the African Student Association went onto the field for a halftime dance. Healthcare studies major Chrystophe Obiang ze, a senior, discussed why the association came to tonight’s event to show their cultural pride.
“We wanted to make people enjoy, have a good time; we just wanted to bring joy to the field and to the game, support the teams, and we thought that was a great event,” Obiang ze said.
The event itself was an energetic and fun time on each side of the field and even in the stands, with not even the cold weather disrupting the fun.
RHA closed out the game with goodie bags containing self-care and health products for students as a thank you for coming and supporting the game.
