Student-Athlete Advisory Council Hosts First Ever Barn Bash

On September 17 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) hosted their first campus-wide event: Barn Bash at Snider Farms.

Barn Bash was designed with the intent to bring the athletic side of Union and the rest of the student body together in something many students would like to do together: dance and dress up to the theme.

Cecily Berry, a senior business administration major and the president and a senator of SAAC, helped host this event.

“Way back in November of 2023, me and a previous advisor were talking about how much we wanted a country line dance like they used to have in the 90s and so I was like, ‘why don’t we do it?’” Berry said. “I know a lot of people have been asking and wanting a country line dance, kind of like a swing dance-fall-Cardinal Ball vibe.”

This event included raffles which had prizes such as free scoops of ice cream from Green Frog, free smoothies from Smoothie King and a Perkin’s gift card. Additionally, there was a best-dressed contest with the prize of an air fryer.

Line dance instructor Donna Barlow taught the attendees steps to different line dances for about an hour. Some songs that played were “Fireball” by Pitbull, “Wobble” by V.I.C and “I See It Now” by Tracy Lawrence.

Later in the evening, different line dance songs such as “Footloose”, “Cupid Shuffle” and “Fake ID” were played. This allowed students to start line dancing and to incorporate some swing dancing steps.

Taryn Lengacher, a freshman nursing major, has had ballet and a few swing and line dance experiences and classes in the past.

“I really enjoyed getting to know some sweet friends here and just getting to laugh with them tonight and dance,” Lengacher said. “It was really fun and I think everyone was having a fun time trying to learn it and figure it out and laughing together.”

Lauren Killgore, a freshman commercial music major, has had little to no dance class experience.

“Seeing everyone having a fun time even if they don’t know the dances, they’re just having a fun time jamming to the music,” Killgore said. 

Berry hopes to continue this event in the future.

“I think it was really good. I honestly didn’t know what to expect,” Berry said. “It means so much to the athletes for the students to come and support us. And we really want to build a better relationship between athletes and students.”