Unlike any other campus party
On Friday, Feb. 20, the UD Student Foundation hosted a Jazz Night in the Dumb Ox. It was the first of its kind, and a mere five dollar cover for singles and eight dollars for couples opened the doors to a refreshingly unique night at the University of Dallas. It was a popular event, with most of the Dumb Ox filled throughout the event. Though attendees were encouraged to bring a date, the lively atmosphere made it easy for students to make friends and socialize with everyone there.
The ticket price included free alcoholic beverages from the Dumb Ox bar for those 21 and up, refreshments and charcuterie, as well as two entries in a raffle for a record player. Rebecca Bartke, senior English major, won the record player.
What made Jazz Night stick out from most other indoor campus events was the live music. The Dumb Ox was the perfect venue for a band to set the tone for a classy escape with friends and music.
Joe Rodda, a class of 2026 Politics Major and member of Student Foundations, said, “Jazz Night unequivocally provided the most fun anyone has ever had at UD. Ever heard of Jay Gatsby? Amateur. Measured against this Student Foundations bash, a Gatsby party would be considered… well, puny. Trite. Gauche. Jazz night is the shining standard in comparison with which every future event will be designated either a success or a failure… so high a bar has been set, I pity the events that have to follow in its monumental wake.”
Student band “Mall Culture” performed an incredible setlist filled with classics such as “Twist and Shout” and “Love on Top,” along with other instrumental jazz hits.
The entertainment was not only confined to the stage, however. A dance competition began around an hour into the event, an exciting opportunity for people to show off their moves while competing with their friends and enjoying the music.
Couples danced at the same time until a judge eliminated them by tapping them on the shoulder, and the crowd of dancers whittled down until only two couples remained.
The final two couples were freshmen Frances Stariha and Manuel Del Valle versus senior theology major/business minor Angela Vu and Christopher Boltz, whom Vu met at Red River Dancehall and Saloon, with Vu and Boltz taking home first place.
Vu was pleased about winning the competition with Boltz, and was surprised by their success. “Having just submitted my thesis, my top priority was winning the Jazz Night dance competition,” said Vu. “We practiced for 20 minutes before heading to Jazz Night after not having danced together for 4 months.”
Students donned suits and dresses appropriate for the occasion, further contributing to the classy atmosphere.
The event ended with an hour of karaoke. Anyone was able to request a song, grab the microphone and hop on stage to sing in front of a crowd gathered by the stage to dance and cheer for every singer. Some picked famous sing-alongs, while others continued on with the spirit of the evening and picked jazz standards to sing, many putting on their best impression of Sinatra or Fitzgerald. Even though the dance competition had long been over, spontaneous dancing broke out during the karaoke until the very end of the whole event.
After the final songs, Jazz Night came to a close at 11:00 PM. If nothing else, the large attendance within the event speaks to how much the UD community appreciates fresh ideas and events that aren’t the usual TGIT or club activity.
Jazz Night is the perfect example of an event that uses the Dumb Ox to its full potential, and UD students are looking forward to more creative activities that make campus life a true source of good fun.