RHOaring Twenties: BSU Students Take a Trip to the Past at the Speakeasy By Britney Pollard Profound spoken word. Beautiful songs. Thought-provoking conversations. That’s what filled the room as the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho hosted a Roaring Twenties speakeasy during their Founders’ Week in CLT 102. As soon as guests walked in, they were immediately greeted with the sounds of big band and jazz playing. Everyone involved stayed true to theme and character, the ladies dressed in head to toe in their best flapper attire and the gentleman cleaned up in tailored suits and bowties. Once everyone was seated, the show officially began. It started off with a brief history lesson, courtesy of a YouTube clip, which elaborated on the political, economic, social, and cultural movements of the 1920s. More specifically, the audience was introduced to the speakeasy and exactly what it was. Speakeasies, as discussed at the event, were establishments that adults would secretly frequent during the Prohibition Era to socialize and drink alcohol. That seemed to set the mood for the night. Another important aspect of the speakeasy during the 1920s was entertainment. Of course, a few of Bowie State’s talented students delivered. Powerful pieces were performed along with an acoustic song that had a few members of the audience holding their lighters in the air. In between the creative components of the night, the audience engaged in commentary on certain issues facing the youth like the legalization of marijuana, same-sex marriage, and the recent re-election of President Barack Obama. Fascinating opinions were bounced around the auditorium, challenging everyone in the room to really think. Based on the audience’s response, it was clear that those in attendance found it refreshing to see members of the student body come together to showcase their gifts as well as share their well-formed, knowledgeable views on important topics. | 
Speaking little English, Ji-Wu Jia came to the United States with his wife and son in 1989 from Beijing, China, a society that is much more open to the world now than years ago. Home to the 2008 Olympics, Beijing is also where Jia received a bachelor’s degree in computer programming from Beijing College of Economics.
Dr. Falih M. Alsaaty is professor in the management information systems department in the College of Business for Bowie State University (BSU). In cooperation with other faculty members, he played a key role in the creation of the College's Master of Business Administration Program. 
Bowie State’s doctoral program in educational leadership enabled Dr. Donna Shimoda Hollingshead explore how data-driven decisions can improve school performance—but she admits she was initially attracted to the program’s convenience.
