'Spring homecoming' promises good time

Dr. Luis Almeida talks with student reporters. (Panther photo)

Claflin’s Arts and Letters Annual Bash will have an increase in events this year, CALA-Bash Chair Dr. Luis Almeida said.

CALA-BASH highlights the work of the departments of the Humanites and Social Sciences. The festival will take place April 7-14.

Almeida, 2024 CALA-Bash chair and head of the Mass Communications Department, said CALA-Bash is often referred to as “spring homecoming.”

The festival has been recovering each year since the pandemic. Almeida said this year's events will allow the departments to show themselves in more detailed ways.

“We have seven days to really display what is the best in Humanities and Social Sciences here at Claflin,” Almeida said. “So why not go a little deeper and share maybe like more than one event?”

Almeida told students reporters March 9 there are many events that should interest students.

In addition to the senior showcase, the Art Department will host a canvas painting and a T-shirt stencil event during which students can design their own shirts.

“Now the Art Department is having a number of extra events to promote their department,” Almeida said.

Almeida said the Mass Communications Department will add two new events surrounding podcasting and broadcast work to its usual Mass Communications Night.

“We typically have one, but we are going to have, from now on, at least three events to display what we do,” Almeida said. “We have multiple areas of interest that could be good experiences for students on campus to find more about.”

The History Department will lead a civil rights tour of Claflin’s campus, with three available time slots.

“The multiple-events-per-unit mindset is really something that we worked on this year,” Almeida said. “To give options for our constituents.”

Almeida said the added events will provide more experiences for CALA-Bash attendees, allowing the community to learn about the departments in entertaining ways.

“CALA-Bash is going to be a fun event this year. Folks should definitely come to campus to have a good time,” Almeida said.

“This is the type of event that we should celebrate every year here in Orangeburg.”