Students kicked off the new school year Saturday August 28 with the annual Back-to-School Dance organized by Student Government.

The Western-themed dance, held in the Commons this year instead of the Old Gym, received favorable comments from the students who attended.

“It was super fun,” said Nadia Dervish, a sophomore.

“I liked that you could hear the music from the restrooms,” added Erika Morales, a senior.  “The DJ seemed better, too.”

Student Government representatives and Adviser Frau Laaksonnen provided the inspiration for the new location in the Commons.

“I was very pleased with it, and I thought it went well,” said Frau. She liked that the Commons provided a more “comfortable, central area” in which students could hear the music from the tables, the restroom and the water fountains.

In her opinion, students seemed more involved and were given opportunities to socialize at the tables or cool off in the Triton Center when not in the mood to dance a certain song.

Martin Radue, student body president, agreed that the dance went very well.  The student support was sweet,” he said.  “It was an interesting change of pace and we’ll look at what we can do in the future to improve the dance even more.”

The turnout for the Back-to-School dance was good as far as the first dance of the year goes. Student Government has the “green light” to hold the next dance, Fall Fest, in the Commons, and Frau said that she’s anxious to see how that location will be with a larger, more formal crowd.