Members of student government began the school year with an Eastern tradition, which involved music, dance and war chants.

The theme of student government’s first night was “Make it a blue night,” and students came out to show their support for Eastern.

To excite Eastern for the rest of the night, the marching band sounded its drums for the “March of Champions.”

As the night went on, more and more students, and even faculty members, crowded the South Quad to exclaim their spirit for Eastern.

Kaylia Eskew, the student body president, said she was proud of the night and the turnout.

“We had a good variety of new students, returning students, Greeks and athletes, so I was very happy with it,” she said.

Rhythm and X-tacy, an Eastern dance group, started off the celebration with a performance with mascot Billy the Panther guest appearing in front of the stage.

President of Rhythm and X-tacy Keaira Williams said the performance turned out well for the group.

“This is an opening thing besides Pantherpalooza where (students) know stuff that goes on at the school,” Williams said.

After a welcome from President Bill Perry and Eskew, members of all the Eastern athletic teams got the crowd jazzed up with a shout-out to all of the Eastern teams.

Dino Babers, the head football coach, stepped up to the stage to sound off the roll call of Eastern’s football team.

However, before announcing the players, Babers gave his praise to the football team’s home game record from last year.

The Pink Panthers and EIU Dancers performed following the football roll call.

Sam Beumel, the Pink Panther captain, choreographed the performance.

Beumel said only veteran Pink Panther dancers were performing.

“It is important to perform our best in front of new people and get the spirit of EIU,” Beumel said.

The EIU fight song was also performed and taught by the Eastern cheerleaders, and afterward they performed additional cheers to familiarize students and promote athletics.

The cheerleaders also taught the war chant, which J. Corey Francis, the director of bands, wrote last year for football games.

During the celebration, members of student government also had people jumping as Eskew and the executive board threw out 500 T-shirts to the audience.

This year was Eskew’s first year running the night.

“I was nervous, but it’s exciting, and I love kicking off the school year like this,” she said. 

Jarad Jarmon can be reached at 581-2812 or jsjarmon@eiu.edu.