Groove and Glide into Black History Month

By Teagan Rotella

The reflecting lights of the disco balls danced on the ceiling, floor and walls of the room, immediately catching the eyes of students as they entered the rink.

Starting off Black History Month strong at the Student Recreation Center, Groove and Glide, a roller skating disco event, returned to Rider on Feb. 1 for its second-consecutive year.

As Rider students adjusted to their new schedules, Groove and Glide provided a fun skating escape while sharing the history of Black culture, the perfect combination of learning and fun.

Students were welcomed into the SRC with tables topped with colorful and informative display boards, sharing the history of Black culture in a fun and interactive way. The stations included “Roll Through History,” “Pouring into Our Legacy,” “The Soulful Soundtrack of the Rink” and “Strides and Smiles,” as mentioned in the The Center for Community and Belonging’s email that shared the news regarding this event.

After reading the information shared at each station, students were able to answer six scavenger hunt questions. Upon successful completion, students earned a custom water bottle that they could decorate with Black History Month and skate-themed stickers provided at the tables.

Michael Nelson, senior game design major, mentioned how important it is to have an event like Groove and Glide at Rider.

“[Groove and Glide] is a chance for all Rider students to come together for a good event, spend time with each other, have fun and also educate themselves on the rich culture of roller skating and how it has a very impactful stance in Black communities,” Nelson said.

Nelson also recalled how Groove and Glide was introduced last year by Jasmine Johnson, the Director of Community Engagement and Belonging, after she began working at Rider.

Senior sports media major and member of BMU, Nathan Greene said, “We’re trying to keep the tradition going by doing it every year, because it’s a great event and the students seem to love it.” 

After completing the scavenger hunt and receiving a custom water bottle, students entered the rolling rink area stationed in the back of the Schimek Family Fitness Center. 

DJs played a variety of songs, including “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga, “Ain’t It Fun” by Paramore and “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction. 

Before skating, students had to provide their name, birth date and sign an agreement on either of two devices on a table. If students needed the skates provided, they shared their shoe size with one of the people running the sign-in table.

After tying up their laces, students immediately took to the checkered rink, half of the floor was colored orange and green, the other half was green and black. The wheels of the skates lit up orange and green with each glide of a person’s move. 

The skaters’ abilities ranged from beginner to advanced, with an even mixture of both, creating a welcoming and nonjudgemental environment.

Freshman psychology major Tyler Scherer grew up playing street hockey with his neighbors, making him skilled at roller skating. 

“I like that there’s a lot of people coming out and trying new things … I’ve never really seen anything like this at any school. I think this is such a unique [event],” Scherer said.

Freshman health science major Mamadi Diawara mentioned how he had no experience with roller skating, yet still wanted to attend this event with friends and have fun.

The event proved to be worth students’ time as it was a great opportunity to hang out with friends and learn more about Black culture.

Diawara said, “Bring your friends! The more people that show up to the school events, the better the school becomes.”