Spring formal this year is going to look a lot different than in years past. On February 19, the CAB team announced in chapel that the spring formal would take a new form; instead of being held off campus at a place downtown, the event is set to be on March 15, and will be held on campus.
There was a promotional video shown on Monday, February 19 during chapel which outlined the events in which Brad Voyles and his wife Kelli Voyles explained that the inaugural ball would be held on campus on March 15 of this year. It was not explicitly stated that this event would be in lieu of a spring formal. But students who worked with CAB and marketing were then permitted to disclose that the inaugural ball is in lieu of the spring formal after the promotional video had been shown.
Students of all types are excited and enthusiastic about the inauguration of President Brad Voyles. However, some students wonder why a spring formal event is taking place on campus, as this has not been the typical idea for formal. In light of this, the students are thinking of the tie to the inauguration ceremony, which is on the same day. Some students speculate that the inauguration is so costly that we’ve had to host “formal” on our own turf. Also, students talk about the fact that the college has been discouraged at times from hosting spring formal at certain venues because of poor behavior in the past.
Some students are relieved that they will be allowed to bring outside guests/dates to the event. According to the email sent out to students on February 19, although the inaugural ball is related to the inauguration, the goal is not to host board members, members of staff or faculty for the event. It is still a primarily student-oriented event.
For those who are not aware, the events for the inaugural ball are as follows: the event kicks off with a banquet in the Carter lobby from 5:30 to 7:30. Swing dancing will start on the chapel lawn during that time from 7:30 to 8:30, and the dessert bar will open during that time as well from 8:00 to 10:00. The event will finish with DJ dancing on the chapel lawn from 9:00 to 11:00 pm.