People walking through Ohio University's Baker University Center yesterday didn't expect a song and dance - but that's exactly what they got.
As passersbys gawked, OU students materialized on Baker's first floor at noon to perform a dance routine to Hall & Oates' You Make My Dreams.
It's awesome
said Erin Kovar, a sophomore studying education. I just ate lunch. I was just walking by and I heard the music.
The group was made up of fitness instructors, personal trainers and students, according to a news release from Campus Recreation. The dance started out with one student and grew to include about 40 people by the end.
I've been wanting to do this for three years and I'm graduating in two weeks and I wanted to fulfill that dream
said Sarah Ganson, a senior studying women and genders studies and Jewish studies. Ganson organized the event with the help of friends who are dancers and the fitness instructors from Ping.
A representative from OU's admissions office videotaped the event, but Ganson said the event was organized completely by students and the department was likely tipped off.
OU Admissions could not be reached for comment.
Matt Tokarsky, a student senator and senior studying sociology, was one of the flash mob participants.
It's a fun thing to do on your last year here
to make a spectacle of yourself
said Tokarsky. I've always enjoyed public humiliation.
Tokarsky said the group practiced four or five times during the past few weeks.
The students, who seemed to appear from nowhere, planned where they would start and how they would leave, Tokarsky said.
The timing of the event was key.
Planning the mob for noon allowed people eating lunch and those walking through Baker to enjoy the show, Ganson said.
The event took place about a month after Ohio State University organized a similar flash mob.
About 70 OSU students and staff performed a routine to the TV show Glee's version of Journey's Don't Stop Believin'
said Jordan Davis, an OSU senior studying political science and leadership studies, who organized the event.
I have always wanted to be a part of a flash mob
said Davis, who added she was inspired by a YouTube video of a flash mob in a Belgium train station.
However, the idea for OU's flash mob didn't stem from OSU's event, Ganson said.
I just think people take being in college too seriously sometimes. We wanted to have fun and enjoy being young and spontaneous
Ganson said. It was an adventure and a way to catch people off-guard.
1
