Veronica Novotny
Editor-in-Chief
Dozens of students danced, tossed around giant beach balls and ate snacks at the Patriot’s Dance hosted by a new political club Saturday from 7-11 p.m. in Finnegan Fieldhouse.
The entryway and inside of the fieldhouse were decorated with posters with quotes from Republican presidents and other political conservatives, and the inside had strobe lighting; a DJ; red, white and blue decor; plenty of Little Caesars pizza; and, most notably, two 6-foot tall beach balls, which were bounced around the dance floor.
Many attendees came in red, white and blue outfits to follow the patriotic theme.
Halfway through the night, junior Meredith Lindle performed the National Anthem, with many of the attendees joined in.
At the end of the night, the attendees got into a line and sang along to “God Bless the USA.”
There was also a photo booth, which was dysfunctional for most of the evening, and a Turning Point information table with pins, posters and stickers.
Freshman Celine Najm, founder and president of Turning Point at Franciscan University of Steubenville, said, “(The table) gave students at Franciscan the opportunity to talk with and network with our field representative Alex Mortensen, who oversees the territory we’re in.”
Mortensen, an employee of Turning Point USA from Akron University, has been mentoring the Turning Point club as it gets off the ground, Najm said. The club is part of a national non-profit that promotes and advocates for conservative values among students.
Turning Point hosted the dance because it “really wanted people to know about Turning Point on campus because we just started last semester,” Najm said. “It’s so important, during the time when people are openly hating on our country … to gather together and celebrate how wonderful our country is. … We are promoting love for our country.”
Sophomore Samantha Apanasewicz, another member of the club, said the dance was a lot of fun.
“You shoulda come,” Apanasewicz said.
The Patriot’s Dance was co-sponsored by Turning Point USA and Exc!te.