Hundreds of students dashed onto the stage of Lynn Eusan Park on Wednesday to film UH’s version of the Harlem Shake.
The Harlem Shake is an outdated dance that has recently captured viral media. “Other universities have jumped on board, and now UH will show who is the best at it,” said Jessica Grono, Student Program Board president.
“We’re better than UT. We had to do one.”
The crowd was one of the largest the SPB has seen in such short notice, Grono said. With the help of the administration, the student video network, and the College Kids, SPB planned and marketed the event in a week.
“If you’re going to give credit, give it to the students,” Grono said.
Students came in their UH gear, masks, bikinis and costumes such as King Kong, SpongeBob Squarepants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Gingerbread Man. Shasta even boogied.
“This is awesome. This is what being a Cougar is all about,” said Cedric Bandoh, Student Government Association president. “This is how star our Coog community is.”
Bandoh danced in the crowd alongside students such as Mike Feliciano, a management information systems junior who was dressed as Spiderman.
“I like being at UH. There’s a lot of school spirit here. I used to go to UT, and this rivals it,” Feliciano said. “The student body here keeps life at UH pretty fun.”
University of Texas is one of the many universities that has a Harlem Shake.
Psychology junior Ashkan Ghashghai strutted to the scene on jumping stilts and dressed as Waldo because he said it would be easy to find in the video.
“I think it is cool that someone is thinking of stuff like this,” Ghashghai said.
Some students whipped out their phones and took the viewer approach. Students like Rico Francis, a media production junior, watched from behind the stage.
“It’s crazy,” Francis said. “I came to support (UH), support the movement. It’s nice to get a break from school.”
Francis applauded SPB for putting the event together so quickly. He wasn’t alone. Nutrition sophomore Michelle Ruiz was impressed by the crowd as she watched from her seat on the stage.
“The Harlem Shake is a pretty ridiculous fad,” Ruiz said. “All these people show a lot of pride.”
The video is expected to be on YouTube by the end of the week.