Students skate through color lines

photo by Tom Galaraga

Angela Perry and Adrian Bean stop in the center of the roller-rink to practice their roller-dance moves at this semester's Skate Night, held at Skate Express in Chino.

by Gloria Diaz
Assistant Editor

Hip hop and R&B pumped up the crowd of about 150 at Skate Express in Chino where African America Student Alliance presented the "Bounce over boundaries, rock to the music, and roller skate through color lines" last week.

Students from University of La Verne, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona College and other surrounding colleges filled the skating rink.

After the positive feedback following the first Skate Night in January, members of AASA decided to put on another Skate Night.

"There was a goal to bring about unity," said LaReina Whatley, AASA president. "We wanted to bring together students from other schools, who are not necessarily African-American."

Last week's event was free.

And Skate Night may become a new tradition for AASA members.

The facility was open to everyone, but mainly to college students attended.

The first one in January did not have as good a turn out as this one because not as many students were on campus, Whatley said.

Also, the one in January had a cover charge, while last week's event was free.

Also contributing to the spring event's popularity was that other schools were invited.

"I went to the one they had in January and I had a really good time," said Sarita Vaughn, junior. "It was nice to see that everyone was having a great time together."

"I went because a friend invited me, but I'm glad I went," said freshman Rosa Arcadia. "It was about being free and just being you. I would go if they had another one."

Sara Kirk, sophomore, added: "(It) brought you back to junior high when everyone would have birthday parties there."

AASA is planning on holding two more Skate Night events next year.

"If we don't have any other events next year, we will at least have this one," Whatley said.