By Audrey Bullock and Kayla Raynak
On Wednesday, Oct. 21, DJ Bryce Alakai visited Slippery Rock University to host “Rave at the Rock.”
Alakai is a DJ, producer and music artist, most-recently known for winning the eighth season of Love Island. Love Island is a dating show streamed on Peacock.
The event took place in the Smith Student Center ballroom and was hosted by the University Program Board (UPB). Doors opened at 7:30 p.m.
One group of students arrived to line up at 4:30 p.m. The first student in line said she was excited for “literally everything” to do with the event.
Students shared their reactions to learning that Alakai would be visiting SRU.
“Me and my roommates were all screaming, we were so excited we started looking up outfits,” an SRU student said.
“I stopped dead in my tracks,” another student said. “My friend told me when I was on the way to my LDI meeting, and I literally told everyone.”
Several students wondered if Trinity, Bryce’s winning partner on Love Island, would be there.
Many students put a lot of work into planning their outfits for the event.
“It was very stressful,” one student said. “We were trying to make sure that all of our outfits were good enough. We were so scared cause we were like, ‘oh my gosh, it’s Bryce from Love Island. They have to be top-tier outfits. ’”
Before the show began, students lined up for the photo booth and airbrush tattoos.
UPB members also gave out light-up bracelets, headbands and glasses. The bracelets synced to the beat of the music Alakai played.
Students shared what they were most excited for about the event.
“To see him at Slippery Rock. I’m just going to be like, ‘woah, I just saw you on my screen all summer, and now I see you in person.’ That’s kind of crazy,” one student said.
Alakai began his set at 8:30 p.m. with “Dracula” by Tame Impala. Students jumped up and down, waving glow sticks. Students also tossed beach balls and danced.
The event marked the first rave ever held at SRU.
When one student found out the event was a rave, she said she was “so hype.”
One SRU student said he wasn’t a Love Island fan, but came to the event because it was a rave.
“It’s fun, it’ll be a good time,” he said. He was most excited about “the loud music and flashing lights.”
For information about upcoming UPB events, individuals can follow srupb on Instagram.
