In an effort to promote and strengthen the school community, the Black Student Union (BSU) will be hosting “Are You Smarter Than a Ninth Grader” on Oct. 29 in the gym from 2-4 p.m. Forms will be sent to ninth grade teachers, and QR codes are being posted on bulletin boards and the announcements. Admission will be free, but student IDs are required.

For this event, freshmen will be facing upperclassmen, staff and faculty members. There will be different ways for contestants and audience members to interact with each other during the event.

“Students can expect admin and a lot of audience interaction,” BSU Activities Director Hellen Beyene said. “If you weren’t initially part of the rounds, you still have a chance to interact and be on stage.”

Previously, the club hosted “Club Feud” in October. Clubs would compete against each other Family Feud-style, while other students joined the audience in the bleachers. However this year, they decided to mix things up.

“We decided to change it this year just to bring something different to the campus,” BSU President Breana Williams said. “It still brings the idea of friendly competition and gives BSU a chance to explore different events that work for our school and club.”

The choice in change came through a process, as they discussed what to do for the annual event. 

“When we [initially decided] to replace this, we were thinking of the show, ‘Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?’” Beyene said. “[We thought] it would be fun to put our own spin on it, [and provide freshmen with] a way to get into the school community and compete with the upper classes.”

There will be a variety of questions to answer, all falling within the ninth-grade curriculum. Prizes will be awarded to both a student and a faculty member.

“[I will be attending this event], I’m so excited to go,” freshman Dylan Knox-Anderson said. “[I find it really interesting] what they are doing this year, and I can’t wait to participate in [a simulated] game show.”