Free style and fashion aren’t typically part of the average family reunion.But LSU and Southern’s Annual College Family Reunion, which took place Saturday on the Parade Grounds, had all that and more.Attendees could participate in bungee runs, games and artist sketched caricatures.A dance troupe, Legacy, and a rap group, Da Future, also performed.”This is an expressive art, which is one way for us to take part [in] the event,” said Emanuel Washington, Legacy dancer and sociology junior.But the crowd increased considerably when the stroll-off began.”The stroll-off is between Greeks from Southern and LSU,” said Elyse McFadden, Southern’s activities coordinator and marketing senior. “Whoever wins has bragging rights.”Participants of the stroll-off must walk with attitude and creativity to win, McFadden said.LSU came out on top with both winners — the Nu Psi chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Iota Theta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.The fashion show was in two parts.LSU models donned clothing from various designers like Soul Fly and Monsta Ink, while Southern models wore an array of swimwear.The event, which was the final celebration for Black History Month, was a fun conclusion to the month, said Cerise Edmonds, Office of Multicultural Affairs coordinator.”It’s a great opportunity to come together for unity between these institutions of higher learning,” she said. “We can all come out and have a good time.”Students from both universities said this event was a great way to network and catch up with people.”I like seeing a lot of people I haven’t seen since last year’s reunion,” said O.T. Griffin, business management senior from Southern. “It’s good to intermingle our networks.”Ebony Mitchell, LSU’s Miss Imani and psychology junior, said she thinks the event is a representation of the University’s black community.”The effort will show how valuable the black community is to campus,” she said. “We are quite a force.”The Black History Month Committee began planning the event in October, said RaKeema Thomas, entertainment and activities team leader of the Committee and psychology sophomore.LSU spent about $5,000 on the event.”Putting the event together wasn’t hard,” said Niya Blair, African America Cultural Center coordinator. “There’s just a lot of different angles and lots of people to contact.”Next year, McFadden hopes the event will be at Southern. Either way, most attendees feel the event is important to the two universities.”We’re across town,” said Lorenzo Foster, recent LSU graduate and employee of the Public Policy Research Lab, “And we’re different schools but we’re part of the same community.”——Contact Victoria Yu at [email protected]