Despite their laborious efforts in stringing Christmas lights and iridescent balloons, the Campus Activities Office hit a pretty drab note with this year’s Midwinter Ball theme: “Carleton Through the Ages.” The hall leading from Sayles to the Great Hall was plastered with excerpts from student handbooks of years gone by. That’s right, not streamers or crepe paper, but handbooks were used for decorations. A few of my favorites:
You should plan to spend from $15 to $45 per term on books, depending on which courses you’re taking. 1964-65
Freshmen are expected to keep off the grass. 1936
Luckily, the inclusion of the Pink Party Raffle at this year’s dance put a rosy spin (with plenty of pink stars and balloons) on an annual event. In the week prior to the ball, 40 dashing Carleton men volunteered themselves as raffle-dates for the upcoming performance of “The Vagina Monologues”. At a blindingly pink Sayles table, their fellow Carls could peruse each potential date’s profile (with photo, astrological sign, and fun fact), then purchase raffle tickets for $1 each. The lucky winners of the strapping lads (for a night) were announced during Midwinter Ball.
Most of the students volunteered as dates to display how men should take a stand against violence towards women. Jonathan Eidsvaag ‘08 put it succinctly: “Simply put, violence against women is not cool.”
The proceeds from the raffle went to the HOPE center, a local community resource for women. The HOPE center provides emergency assistance for victims of domestic violence, education programs, legal advocacy, and resources for children of victims.
