“About last night…” read the email sent to Hendricks Hall residents from Residential Director (RD) Sarah Beckham after an evening at Welcome Week turned into an unforgettable memory. While some students were nestled in blankets and munching on popcorn at The Greek Amphitheatre watching “Inside Out 2,” a different kind of energy existed at the first-year dorm.
What began with a few freshmen shouting, “Get your free hot dogs!” at a casual, small barbeque behind the dorm, quickly evolved into a lively scene of music, dancing and a sea of students meeting.
At the center of the action was first-year business administration major Luke Jackson, also known as “DJ LJ.” Jackson’s DJ setup made a surprise appearance at the barbeque, kicking the night up a notch.
According to Jackson, he met a student at the barbeque who had a speaker and asked if he could use it for his DJ controller. Once they started playing music, word started spreading across campus.
“It was a big crowd and people from other dorms were coming, and we were just having a blast dancing,” first-year psychology major Addison Martin said. “It literally felt like a movie; it was unreal how it all just happened.”
Jackson, from Park City, Utah, discovered his love for DJing just a couple of years ago after seeing a friend mix songs.
“I went over to his house and saw him mix one song,” Jackson said. “I instantly was attached to that and really wanted to do it.”
That first spark led him to buy his own equipment, and he’s been hooked ever since.
Jackson’s passion for music began as a child, playing the drums. Growing up in a place he described as “out there” and far from the typical music scene didn’t stop him from becoming fully immersed in the DJ world.
Jackson began experimenting with his setup once or twice a week when he purchased his equipment two years ago.
“There’s a lot to learn — the fader, EQ switches, BPM, performance pads — it’s all about having those at your disposal to be creative,” Jackson said.
He practiced constantly, upgrading from his beginner equipment to a more professional setup, honing his skills for his friends whenever he could — and the perfect opportunity arrived when he entered college, he said.
“DJ LJ is the coolest guy I know,” first-year business finance major Parker Carlile said. “His DJ skills were top-notch; he made the vibe so fun.”
The crowd fed off of the DJ’s energy, especially when the music matched the excitement of the moment.
“Everyone really enjoyed when he played hype music because that’s what it felt like,” Martin said. “It was such an exciting time since we were all entering college.”
According to the PLNU courtesy and quiet hours policy, students are not allowed to play anything that can be heard outside their rooms during the hours of 10 p.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday-Saturday. If so, residential life has the right to confiscate any equipment causing unacceptable noise levels.
The night came to a halt when RD Sarah Beckham arrived at the scene and stood on a lawn chair to get everyone’s attention, informing the students about the policy. After a moment of silence, she let them know, with a smile, that this was an exception due to there being no classes. The crowd immediately erupted into cheers and high fives, and the music cranked back up again.
“I allowed the music to go on until 9:45 p.m., instead of immediately shutting it down, because it was Welcome Week,” Beckham said. “I used a judgment call to make an exception for a one-time situation.”
In an email the following morning, Beckham reiterated the courtesy hours policy, adding, “Def a core memory made. So thanks for working to make that moment happen.”
“It made it a funny memory,” Martin said. “Everyone was jumping up and down, there were dance circles, crowd surfing and everyone was singing and requesting songs.”
Jackson’s approach to DJing was all about connecting with his audience. He played a mix of house, pop and techno, but his real talent lay in reading the crowd and playing what people wanted to hear.
“It’s not really about what I like; it’s about what the people like,” he said. “If they’re ready to dance, you play something hype that they can sing along to.”
As for what’s next, Jackson is keeping his options open. He has spoken with residential directors about potential future events on campus, as he is ready to bring a little more life to campus whenever the opportunity arises.
“I love being a DJ so much, and I think it’s a really cool thing to have,” Jackson said. “I’m just looking forward to the next chance to play.”
