College Green became the dance floor for Ohio University students, faculty and administrators Saturday when a flash mob formed after the Homecoming parade.
The group of approximately 30 gathered and broke out in a performance of “Gangnam Style,” an international hit song by Korean pop star PSY.
Ryan Lombardi, interim vice-president for student affairs, initiated the dance in the center of College Green while students dressed in neon colors and sunglasses ran to the area between College Gate and the Civil War Monument and began performing the routine.
The flash mob surprised many onlookers as a fun and exciting end to the parade, said Marie Mells, an OU alumna of the class of 1985.
“It was spontaneous and kind of cool seeing students doing it live,” Mells said.
Some onlookers now hear “Gangnam Style” differently, including Samantha Wittkopp, a freshman studying early childhood education.
“It was fun and exciting (to witness),” Wittkopp said. “This was the first time I’ve seen a flash mob done in person.”
The flash mob was coordinated by sophomore Bethany Logan and was meant to establish stronger student ties and celebrate the community through a movement, said Nathan Andary, visiting assistant professor of dance and advisor to the event.
Logan, studying performance art, began organizing the event through an email sent to East Green residents.
Rehearsals were held in the Jefferson Hall library last Wednesday leading up to Saturday’s dance, Logan said.
Students who participated in the flash mob said that dancing was a way of contributing to the Homecoming festivities, said Emily Metzger, a sophomore studying wildlife conservation biology and participant.
“We had more people come out than expected,” Metzger said. “It was pretty crazy, really fun meeting new people and having people watch us.”
The flash mob was a positive experience and a great way to celebrate Homecoming, said Kaitlyn Camp, a sophomore studying psychology
and participant in the flash mob.
“This made me really nervous and I really came out of my comfort zone,” Camp said. “This was an enjoyable experience for me and everybody.”
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