Procter & Gamble and the Undergraduate Student Assembly came together to host the Truth and Service Charity Basketball Game in Burr Gymnasium. The charitable game came as the third installment of Howard’s 2022 Springfest.
Springfest is an annual weeklong event hosted by the Undergraduate Student Assembly. This year’s theme is Carnival, a decision that was met with controversy. Carnival is the Catholic festive season that occurs before Lent, and some thought that the inclusion of this tradition in Springfest was inappropriate.
In response, UGSA took to Instagram to publish a statement. The assembly stated, “The 48th Administration of the Undergraduate Assembly wanted to recognize the misinterpretation of Carnival that we showcased in our Springfest Event Line-up post. We have educated ourselves and reached out to appropriate organizations to see where we went wrong.”
In addition to the issued apology, Springfest events were hosted in collaboration with Caribbean student organizations. The Truth and Service Game opened with a lively performance from Tropical Riddimz, Howard’s only Caribbean dance team.
Langston Weddington, a sophomore sports management major and member of Tropical Riddimz, spoke on the importance of the team being included in the Springfest festivities.
“This performance was a big deal for us as we usually only get opportunities to perform at pageants and for smaller crowds,” Weddington said. “It was a great opportunity for us to showcase what we can do and bring some energy and good vibes.”
The momentum in the crowd was kept up by the sounds of DJ ShawnDon and courtside routines by the cheerleading team, as students anxiously awaited the start of the basketball game.
The game was played between two teams, Truth and Service. All students were given the opportunity to try out for the match and the teams consisted of 12 co-ed student players each.
Miles Thomas, a senior TV and film major and head coach of the Truth team, recounts his experience working with the players.
“The game allowed the boys to experience what it’s like to play in the main gym with the lights on,” Thomas said. “Encouraging the youth to be competitive and work hard is important, and I’m glad I was able to lead and teach the team.”
At halftime, the two teams were neck and neck with a score of 26 Service to 25 Truth. Halftime events racked up student participation and included a half-court shot contest and a dunk contest. The show featured an appearance by the Bisonettes dance ensemble as well.
With songs like “Shisha” by Saucy Santana and “Hannah Montana” by Migos playing, the crowd’s energy was running high. Gerald Jones, a junior business management major, captured the mood of the spectators in one simple phrase.
“All I gotta say is today is a great day to be a Bison,” Jones said.
The last minute of the game brought onlookers to the edge of their seats as the game was tied 50-50 with 41 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. With only two seconds left, a player from the Service team sunk a game-winning free throw, breaking the tie and securing the win.
Springfest continued on with a concert in Cramton auditorium on Friday and a fashion show on Saturday.
