By Rory McCarty

Senior Reporter

Oakland University Student Congress’s Trick or Vote took place Thursday evening in the Pioneer Dining Hall of the Oakland Center.

The evening alternated between the reverberating beats of dance music and the fluid movements of dance groups like ASIID, former champions of MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew and the more serious segments where the emcees would give out facts about voting.

“It is similar to ‘Rock the Vote,’ when universities invite famous people to simply come to their event to help them spread the word of how important it is to have these registered people actually go out and make their vote count,” said OUSC Multicultural Affairs Director Kristin Dayag.

A combination of trick or treat and voting awareness event, Trick or Vote brought a unique juxtaposition of colorful costumes and political rhetoric.

In keeping with the Halloween theme, donuts and cider were available, pumpkins were being carved, Halloween costumes were judged in a costume contest and Trick or Vote attendees were making their own music videos in front of a green screen.

On the political side, information about the political issues was available at tables around the event, and a ballot projector showed first-time voters what to expect when they got to the polls on Election Day.

Voting pledge cards were also available, which students could fill out so that OUSC would be able to call them and remind them to vote.

The dance group ASIID, took center stage shortly after the national anthem performed by the group Princeton. Dance routines were performed throughout the evening and were judged by the ASIID crew.

America’s Best Dance Crew champion ASIID performed for a crowd of students at Trick or Vote sponsored by Student Congress.

The emcees, Jonathan Jenkins and Jen Doptis, both kept the crowd pumped up in between dance acts and also distributed information about aspects of the presidential election, such as the Electoral College.

“All the first time voters make some noise!” Jenkins yelled to a wildly cheering crowd.

Doptis would later explain about Proposal 1, and how Michigan would become the 13th state to legalize the use of marijuana if it were passed.

A poll of voters’ likely choice for president was conducted through the method of listening to how loudly the audience cheered.

According to Dayag, the event had two emcees, one representing each major party. Dayag said this was done to “keep it from being biased.”

Many event attendees were enthusiastic about Trick or Vote.

“I think it’s a good way to get the students together and get them energized to vote,” said Lola Arthur, a senior in communications.

Kitto Vongprachanh, a sophomore in the business major, said he thought the show was good, but he doesn’t feel it influenced him in his voting in any way.

“Always been Obama, always gonna stay Obama,” Vongprachanh said.

Dayag said she was happy how the event turned out. “I’m just so happy that OU is part of the statistic of getting people out to vote,” Dayag said.

In addition to promoting the election through civic awareness events like Trick or Vote, OUSC registered 899 new voters this year.