To top off the new winter spirit week, the Student Government Association (SGA) is trying to create a dance during mid-January. But after its first rejection due to numerous setbacks, the chance of having the formal is up in the air.
So far, one of the major obstacles involves funding. A working budget would allow for tickets, decorations, food and a DJ. SGA sponsor Pierce Bello said frequent problems arise because of the lack of space and obtainable chaperones.
“Space is always competitive because everyone loves Marshall, especially the gym,” Bello said. “Because of our proximity to the beltway, all these people want to host basketball tournaments here every weekend.”
Bello said there are limitations to the availability of the gym, and if the SGA was to organize a dance in the middle of the academic year, it would have to book the location immediately.
“[Spacing is] pretty much determined as early as June for most of the school year,” Bello said. “If we are serious about doing a winter formal, we’ve got to book it at the end of this year or at the beginning of next year.”
SGA member and sophomore Manas Atluri said the SGA must promote ticket sales long before the actual date of the dance.
“We need to sell the tickets in advance to get more money [for] decorations and we also need […] approval from [principal Jeff] Litz,” Atluri said. “If approved, we would have started selling tickets right now.”
Atluri said another limitation to having this winter formal is the timing because of break.
“Right after winter break, we would have to get everything together for the dance and that would be really hard for us, considering the amount of time we have,” Alturi said.
Additionally, Atluri said based on the budget of prior dances, financing the formal will require several thousands of dollars.
“Homecoming took us four weeks ahead of time [to prepare],” Atluri said. “It cost us around 3,500 dollars. [Dances can be] over-budget and expensive.”
After the cancellation of the winter formal, Atluri said around 200 students petitioned for the dance to continue.
“We may instead try and book [the dance] by the end of the school year, if we are really serious about [the winter formal] for next year,” Atluri said.
Sophomore Maya Tichoc said if the formal did occur, she would enjoy spending time with her friends there.
“I love school dances,” Tichoc said. “The dances offer a place outside school hours to connect with friends and […] it would have given me a chance to hang out with them.”