BRIDGEWATER, Va. — Students lined up for jerk chicken, plantains, and fried catfish Tuesday evening as the Black Student Alliance hosted a Jamaican-themed dining hall takeover in the main dining hall for Black History Month. The event focused on using food as a way to highlight cultural history and bring students together in a shared campus experience. While BSA has hosted dining hall takeovers in the past, organizers said this year’s event allowed members to play a larger role in shaping both the menu and atmosphere.
“Usually we just let the K pick the menu,” co-president Porter Burrell said. “This time, they invited us in and asked what we wanted to see on the menu.”
Burrell said BSA leaders worked with dining staff to create a menu that blended Jamaican-inspired and southern-influenced cuisine, giving students more input than in previous years.
Members were also more involved in food preparation. Co-president Autumn Sissler said students helped prepare ingredients, including marinades and plantains, ahead of the event.
“We went in yesterday to help prep the food,” Sissler said. “This is the first year where we actually got to be hands-on.”
Burrell said working in the kitchen gave members a better understanding of dining hall operations, while Sissler said the experience helped build appreciation for staff.
“We have a newfound respect for the people who work in the K,” Sissler said.
Organizers said the takeover reflected the role food plays in Black culture and its importance in building relationships and preserving traditions.
“In Black culture, food is how we bond with others,” Sissler said. “It became a communication point for our culture.”
Above and Beyond Culinary Service states that sharing meals can help people exchange traditions and values while strengthening understanding across different backgrounds, a goal BSA leaders emphasized during planning.
The atmosphere in the dining hall was energetic throughout the evening, with music and conversation filling the space. BSA members played music near the entrance and made announcements over a microphone to engage students, inviting them to request songs and participate in karaoke.
The menu featured items such as jerk chicken, plantains, and rice and peas, along with cornbread, fried catfish, collard greens, and mac and cheese.
Student Brandy Sweigart said the event stood out from typical dining hall nights.
“It’s much more active than most nights in the dining hall,” Sweigart said. “Having music really livens up the atmosphere.”
Sweigart said events like the takeover help promote cultural understanding, particularly during Black History Month. Student Tracy Inskip said the event also encouraged students to try foods they might not normally choose.
“It helps people who are picky, like me, try something new,” Inskip said.
Burrell said the organization aimed to take over more than just the menu.
“We’re not just taking over the food,” Burrell said. “We’re taking over the environment.”
Sissler and Burrell said BSA plans to continue hosting cultural and community-focused events throughout the semester. The organization is also promoting upcoming programs on its Instagram page, including a 3-on-3 basketball tournament and its annual awards ceremony.
