The CIAA is officially taking place next weekend and I'm very excited. I always get excited during CIAA week, because all the celebrities come through and party it up in the Queen City! CIAA week is like spring bling in Miami. Lol...maybe that was a little extreme, but you have to admit it is fun in Charlotte around that time.

As most of you know, our proud Golden Bull boys and girls owned the CIAA last year. Both our boys and girls won championships, so my question is who will win this year? If you plan on attending any events, I hope you have reserved your ticket, because it is going to get a little chaotic and for those who have never attended CIAA week, like you freshman, I hope you enjoy!

The 2010 CIAA basketball tournament kicks off this week today, February 24-28, and for the fourth consecutive year it will take over Uptown Charlotte. I moved here about four years ago, so for the past few years I have witnessed the tournament and CIAA grow. The number of people visiting and amount of money being pumped into the local economy has set records each of the last three years. The recession is sure to have an effect this year, but I don't think it's going to slow down the partying.

The thing about CIAA week is that for five or six consecutive days Charlotte is a non-stop party scene: day parties, after parties, concerts, fashion shows, live broadcasts from radio shows, and celebrity appearances galore. The CIAA puts on its own official events including a step show, concert, health forum, career expo, and fan experience in addition to the men's and women's basketball teams from 10 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), including yours truly Johnson C. Smith University, competing for the conference championships.

Oh Oh Oh...C-I-C-I...AA!!!

Posted By: Chelsie Revis, Senior