Winston-Salem State University formally introduced its 2007-2008 king and queen at the Coronation Wednesday at 7p.m. in K.R. Williams Auditorium. Michael Brown and Amber Jefferson officially received their crowns as Mr. Ram and Miss WSSU respectively. The event was titled “Shades of Red: A Royal Masquerade.” The Inner Witness Jazz Band set the mood with a prelude. WSSU instructor and director of theater, Avis Gray, served as the mistress of ceremony and implored everyone to acknowledge the parents of the kings and queens. The audience greeted this request with a loud round of applause.
Religion and ethics professor Dr. Cedric Rodney provided the invocation asking for favor to smile upon Mr. Ram and Miss WSSU, the Royal Court and all of the school’s kings and queens.
SGA President Terrell Stephens followed with a welcome to everyone in attendance.
Last year’s Mr. Ram, Jason Lewis, gave the farewell promenade, setting the scene for the formal induction of the king and queen.
His reigning partner, Tiffany Turner, was unable to attend due to her research obligations in Brazil. To make up for her absence, she sent a video postcard expressing her love for WSSU, its students and her successor.
The stage was awash in red and white, adorned with large masks, massive white columns and eight high-backed seats. A few of the Association of Rhythmic Talent dancers put on a display of poetic motion to dramatize Mr. Ram’s entrance. Brown donned a white suit.
The larger-than-life mask in the back of the auditorium was raised to reveal Miss WSSU as she began her walk down the aisle. Everyone stood and looked in awe as Jefferson made her way to the front of the room in a red dress.
The female members of the royal court donned full white dresses with a red sash around their waists, while the males wore classic black tuxedos. Gray and Clyde Caudle, the master of ceremonies, took turns reading the biographies of each member of the Royal Court. Each person wore a mask as they walked down the aisle, removing it to reveal their identities upon stepping onto the stage.
Each organization’s king and queen promenaded down the aisle before presenting Brown and Jefferson with carefully chosen gifts. They then ascended the stairway to the stage, where they paused briefly to pose before bowing to the royal couple.
Brown’s close friend Jerton Dixon and former Miss WSSU Kelechi Anyawu presented a special poem to welcome and praise the new royal representatives of WSSU. Brandon Ratliff serenaded the Royal Court with his rendition of Mariah Carey’s hit song “Hero.”
Coronation participants, both on stage and in the audience, seemed to have thoroughly enjoyed the event.
“I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and the ball was fun,” said Miss Kappa Omicron Tau Trace Young, a senior education major.
“Everyone looked really nice. I liked the way that the dancers came on the stage and camouflaged Mr. Ram’s entrance,” said senior nursing major Charity Merrit. “That was hot.”
The event closed with the recitation of the WSSU Alma mater. The Royal Ball in the McNeil Ballroom followed immediately after.