Black Student Movement brings the boogie at this year’s BSM Ball

The Black Student Movement kicked off their annual ball with a display of bright colors, bell bottoms and '70s vibes. 

On Wednesday evening, the 2025 BSM Ball took place in the Great Hall of the Frank Porter Graham Student Union. 

BSM, founded in 1967, is a student organization created to embrace Black culture and unite members of the Black student body at UNC. The BSM Ball has been a tradition in the organization for decades, allowing students to dress up and gather in a formal setting to dance the night away and eat good food. 

This year’s theme, “Soul Train,” inspired by the aesthetic of the '70s and the iconic television show, was a fun twist on the ball’s traditional formal dress code. Last year, for example, students donned long gowns, suits and masks for the masquerade theme. 

BSM President Samantha Greene and fellow BSM executive members listened to feedback from last year to make the change to dress-down attire. Greene said that last year’s attendees wanted the ball to be more engaging and inviting, as well as economical for students who could not afford new formal wear every year. 

“A lot of people were like, 'I don't have a formal dress in my college dorm. That's not a thing that we're going to do,’” Greene said. “And so we were like, 'What ideas can you do that are less formal, but still enjoyable in a gala aesthetic?”

That led Greene to the '70s theme, which met their goals and paid homage to one of the first television series in American history that centered Black culture and performers.

"I think it's a great way to celebrate what Black people have done a really good job with in entertainment in kind of a nostalgic way," Green said, commenting on the importance of the theme. 

Attendants at the ball arrived decked out in bright sweaters, eclectic, geometric printed shirts and bell bottoms. Some wore their afros as a nod to the Black Power Movement of the '70s, where many Black Americans embraced their natural hair to combat Eurocentric ideals.

Ava Wharton, co-chair of BSM’s Political Action Committee said she really enjoyed seeing the outfits that her friends and attendees put together for the ball.

The casual theme is one of many changes BSM implemented this year for their ball. They also opted out of the traditional crowning of Mr. and Ms. BSM, instead, having attendees vote for superlatives, such as “best dressed,” “break out organization” and “social advocate.” 

“We wanted to just try to recognize more of the efforts that the Black community has been making overall, because there's a lot of Black organizations that are doing a lot of successful things,” Will Walker III, BSM outreach co-coordinator said. “We wanted to try to uplift breakout organizations or different students we see on campus who are doing a lot of impactful work.”

Recently, BSM has been doing a lot of work through its PAC. In the wake of the 2024 presidential election and cutbacks on DEI initiatives in universities, PAC has hosted events aimed at educating students about issues that affect them, as well as combating political burnout.

Earlier this year, co-chair Wharton and other PAC members partnered with Celsius in an event where they discussed different ways to stay politically informed without getting overwhelmed.

The committee has also taken their activism to broadcast media. Last December, Wharton and others sat down with ABC’s 13News Now to discuss their concerns about affirmative action being revoked and the declining Black population at UNC. 

While much of BSM’s focus lately has been on activism and community building, the BSM Ball serves as a fun release for students and a space to enjoy the college experience. 

“It's more important now than ever that we are leaning in community with one another, supporting one another and ensuring that if Black students do make the choice to come to UNC Chapel Hill, honoring that choice and making sure that we can create fun spaces that provide them with community, give them that fun college experience,” Wharton said.  “Just allow them to see themselves represented in other students, because it's really important.”

Attendance at the ball was lower than expected but students who did attend enjoyed dancing to '70s hits and nostalgic pop songs, Raising Cane's catering and taking a pause from midterm season to hang out with friends. 

BSM regularly posts events on their Instagram @unc_bsm.

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