It was summer 1984. The eyes of millions of moviegoers were locked on silver screens across the country as theaters first featured the now-classic comedy “Ghostbusters.”
That same summer, in time for the new academic year, the Emory community witnessed the premiere of another event that just celebrated its 40th anniversary. The inaugural Songfest 1984 was a Campus Life celebration that has become a beloved university tradition, nurturing a sense of belonging and community among generations of first-year students at Emory.
Songfest is an evening of musical performances by first-year students only days after they arrive on campus. It pits residence halls against each other in a friendly competition, with each hall’s residents performing original lyrics and choreography to a variety of popular karaoke tunes. Each group touts the virtues of their hall.
Student-driven from the beginning
Preparations for Songfest begin soon after the previous school year ends, with Residence Life student staff members taking the lead. Student staff, resident advisors (RAs) and sophomore advisors (SAs), live in the residence halls and assist their peers in countless ways throughout students’ first year of college life.
RAs and SAs prepare for Songfest throughout the summer, creating the lyrics and dance moves they will teach first-year students during several practice sessions that are part of fall orientation.
At the end of each Songfest event, judges recruited by Campus Life — faculty, staff, student leaders and alumni — select the best three performances. Songfest winners earn prizes, which often are items to enhance the winning hall. Equally important — or perhaps even more — is that winners enjoy “bragging rights.”
Scott Rausch (left), senior director of Residence, Sorority and Fraternity Life, served as emcee for the night. He is with Joe Moon, who served as Oxford dean of campus life until retiring in 2023. Moon led the team that started Songfest in 1984.
The Campus Life staff in 1984 were crystal clear about the goal of Songfest, although they had no idea the celebration would evolve into a time-honored Emory tradition.
“Songfest was a new idea and probably initially seen by many as a silly one,” says Martha Wisbey, who led the Residence Life team supporting first-year students at the time. “So, understandably, there was a bit of skepticism among our students and student staff.”
Moon gives Wisbey the lion’s share of the credit for bringing Songfest to life, but she shares the accolade.
“Our RAs and SAs jumped right in and were tireless in their leadership of our first-year students and their commitment to ensuring the success of this inaugural event, which was first hosted in the courtyard of Longstreet and Means Halls [now combined as Eagle Hall],” she says.
Students recall “their own” Songfest
Many students watch Songfest performances each year and cheer for their first-year halls. Others choose to become more directly involved with the annual event as Residence Life student staff.
“The greatest thing about Songfest is watching students come out of their shells and make friends throughout the process,” says Adelaide Rosene 25C, who joined the Residence Life staff as a second-year student and now serves as an RA in Raoul Hall.
Rosene fondly recalls preparing for Songfest as a first-year student in Harris Hall. “We practiced parodies of popular songs in the parlor and covered our faces in blue paint. During the competition, our audio track cut out mid-performance,” she says. “After several seconds of confusion, we continued to sing the rest of our songs a cappella. We didn’t win, but I felt incredibly proud of how quickly my Harris community adapted.”
Abby Rollins 26C serves as an RA in Eagle Hall and credits their Songfest experience with influencing their decision to join Residence Life’s student staff.
“Songfest is a chance to bond with your roommate and other first-years in your residence hall, as well as the staff that will be supporting you throughout the year,” Rollins says. “Songfest makes the first few days at Emory so much easier and more fun and the entire first-year experience less intimidating.”
Terrence Lurry 25C, a senior resident advisor in the Smith, Thomas and Hopkins Halls (Complex), had a similar experience. “The thing I enjoyed most about Songfest was the feeling of community and friendship that I got when practicing for the performance,” Lurry says. “It was a great way to feel a little better about being away from home by doing something that felt a little silly.”
Songfest watch parties
Lucas Wright 22C has been involved with Songfest since he arrived on campus as a first-year student in 2018. Now the director for Complex, he recalls Songfest’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“For years, Songfest was hosted in the Woodruff PE Center (WoodPEC),” he says. “In fall 2020, Songfest adapted to the pandemic’s limitations by transforming temporarily to an all-online Zoom event called ‘Skitfest.’”
“In 2021, Songfest returned to the WoodPEC,” Wright adds, “but only first-year students were allowed in the building, and they wore face masks.”
To accommodate audience demand, several live watch party locations were set up around campus to allow second, third and fourth-year students and other members of the campus community to cheer for their favorite hall. It was the first time official watch parties were offered, and they have continued since.
“On this 40th anniversary, Songfest 2024 paid tribute to its roots with each residence hall incorporating a song from 1984 as a nod to the birth of the tradition,” Wright says.
Joining the celebration was Moon, who retired as dean of Campus Life at Oxford College, where he spent 35 of his 45 years with the university. He was recognized for his role in bringing this incredible tradition to Emory and even referenced in a few of the students’ songs.
On Aug. 29, the Songfest 2024 program proved to be another success for the event, which has been student-driven every year since 1984. True to its original goal, the celebration continues to create fun and exciting opportunities for first-year students to embrace their new community, feel a sense of belonging, and prepare to flourish throughout the years of their Emory experience.
With the announcement of this year’s winners Alabama and Dobbs Halls, the “Aladobbs” team rushed the court to celebrate and claim their trophy.
“Winning Songfest is like a dream,” Kadence Ullery said. “We practiced so hard and would stay extra and practice. It was just a great experience.”
“We are feeling very proud of ourselves and want to thank the RAs and the SAs,” Maria Mentzou said. “It was a great opportunity to meet people I didn’t even know were on our floor. I think we’ve created friends and friendships that are going to last long.”