For those who never felt represented by MTV’s Spring Break or Atlanta’s infamous Freaknik, Orange Crush has long been a coastal tradition for HBCU students carving out a space of their own. Over the years, the party gained a reputation for being unruly, unpredictable and unpermitted. But 2025 marked a turning point: for the first time in decades, organizers secured a city permit — paving the way for sponsors, vendors and a full stage setup. Has the infamous beach party entered a new era? AJC’s N