UAS waltzes back into the roaring Twenties for a night during the 2009 Spring Formal.
Hosted downtown at the Baranof Hotel by Student Activities, it was an amazing evening. Everything was decorated to perfection, really giving off the 1920’s feel. The walls and tables were decorated in red, gold and black; the lights were turned down low and posters of urbane flappers and jazz musicians adorned the walls.
By: Mallory Millay
Provided in an adjacent room was a wide array of delectable dishes, which many students enjoyed before heading to the dance floor. Food varying from plates of fruits, vegetables and pizza, to teriyaki chicken wings and sushi were available for student’s dinning pleasures, as well as a large assortment of desserts.
The Baranof Hotel has been hosting the UAS Spring Formal for a number of years, and provides a convenient and elegant location for students according to Tish Satre, Director of Student Services. “The Spring Formal is an event we’ve always done off campus. The Baranof has hosted us for at least 15 years. There are few locations where you can have a bar and still allow underage students there. Students under the age of 21 still have an elegant and beautiful place to go and those who are 21 have the bar adjacent to where the dance is so they don’t have to be far off. We’ve had to police that a little bit, but it’s been nice. It’s an all ages event and you should get some students, staff and faculty there.”
And the ladies on the Student Activities board, who put a lot of time and effort into putting this event together, did a fantastic job. Kristen Plosay, Rashell Miller, Aria Chipley and Nicole Roberts thought of the theme, order and organized the decorations and location, and spent a great deal of time putting everything together. According to Kristen Plosay, a 23 year-old Social Sciences and Psychology major who has been volunteering and working for SAB for four years, putting up the decorations is a very time consuming job. “We decorate starting Friday night, and then from 9 a.m. Saturday morning until we’re finished. It is only the four of us, so usually we get from 3-6 volunteers to help.”
Satre explained how scheduling early is a key to success. “It is always a great dress-up night and it’s a great way for students to celebrate the end of the semester as it draws nearer. It is kind of at a busy time for students and we’re always competing with something else. We always set the date early on; this year we’ll set the date for next year so it is on the calendar really early.”
As incentive for students to buy their tickets to the Spring Formal early, SAB offered the opportunity to students who bought their tickets before a certain date the chance to win a limousine ride to and from the dance. “We have been doing this for a few years as an incentive for people to commit early to buying tickets,” said Satre. “It helps get our numbers for catering and it builds excitement. We call and reserve the limo for the cost of pickup and delivery and set the spot for their pickup as well as their destination. It’s just a little incentive for people to show some interest.”
The Spring Formal is a pleasurable and entertaining event that gives students a taste of something different, elegant and exciting. “I think students believe it’s special because it’s off campus and its closer to a prom-like event. About 95% of the people that come don’t come with dates, so it is a care-free formal dance. Anywhere from 75 to 150 students attend, depending on the year,” said Satre. “It’s an excuse to dress up and have some fun.”
