Spectrum is the St. Bonaventure LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual) alliance. Throughout the year, many clubs at Bonaventure host activities in which students can participate and Spectrum is no different. In fact, Spectrum played a huge role throughout the entirety of October, which was LGBTQ+ history month.
During this time, Cafe Damietta hosted “The In-Between: Living In & Out of the Closet in College,” where students talked about their identity. On Oct. 9, the Reilly Center was house to the pride door on Oct. 11, where students “came out” after walking through a door spectrum had made. Lastly, there was an SBU pride party on the lawn of the Hickey on Oct. 18. With all of these activities that have happened, it’s no surprise Spectrum will also be opening up interest meetings to audition for a new events, like a school-wide drag ball.
For reference, drag ball is a major part of ball underground subculture, which originated in New York City around 1930 and rose to popularity in Washington, D.C. in the 1960s. A “ball” is an elegant dance in which individuals, often drag queens, compete by performing in different drag genres and categories such as faux, androgyny, fish, club, goth, pageant, camp, fluid, or activessel.
Two Spectrum Drag Ball interest meetings were held on Tuesday, Oct, 15th, at 11:30 a.m. in De La Roche room 123, and on Wednesday, Oct 16th, in Plassmann Hall room 151. These meetings were designed to recruit performers for the roles of competing drag kings and queens. Since these interest meetings, talk of the Spectrum Ball have quieted down, much to the dismay of many students.
After the interest meetings, there appears to be a lack of student participation. According to what the SGA (Student Government Association) has told students, Spectrum is still looking for more performers.
“I was meaning to ask if any of you guys are ambiguous enough,” said Okikiola Micheal, a freshman computer science major. “They are looking for people open to trying out drag.”
So for anyone who missed the interest meetings, there is no need to worry. Students should check their emails for opportunities to participate in the ball.
Students who are worried about trying out for drag should not be nervous. Being a drag king or queen involves dressing up as someone of the opposite gender and taking on a persona within that gender. Participants get to create their own drag king or queen character as well as give them names. Pretending to be another person for a night can be therapeutic as it functions as a means for escape.
Once enough students are willing to participate, more information on the spectrum ball will be released.
If students are interested in participating in Spectrum’s Drag Ball, they should contact the club right away.
Spectrum general meetings are held bi-weekly on Fridays at 5 p.m. in De La Roche Hall room 123. You can also email spectrum@sbu.edu for more information.
By Grace Usala, Staff Writer
usalagc19@bonaventure.edu
