Union Board re-creates '80s prom

Being a fan of the '80s isn't something to be ashamed of. Crimped hair, leg warmers, acid wash jeans and music by Bananarama and Cyndi Lauper hint the fabulous decade is back. Well, at least it is for some students IU.\nThe Union Board presents for the first time an '80s Prom Night at 9 p.m. tonight in Alumni Hall of the Indiana Memorial Union. The band Hairbangers Ball will be performing. The cost is free to all.\nSeth Zimmerman, director for major attractions for Union Board, said this theme relates to students more than the other decades.\n"We all were there so we have our childhood memories," Zimmerman said. "The '80s is the decade you love to hate, but its still fun to dress up."\nBoard members will decorate Alumni Hall with neon colors and blow up '80s pictures from the Arbutus yearbook. There will also be fortune telling, caricatures and instant photos of students in costume with an '80s backdrop. Food and drinks will be provided for everyone.\nPrizes such as a $50 gift certificate to Urban Outfitters and a Blondie CD will be awarded to the best '80s costume. Larger prizes will be available through a raffle. Each student will be issued a ticket and will have a choice of two raffle categories: a T-shirt or a movie. Other potential giveaways include various types of '80s paraphernalia.\nHairbangers Ball, a regular at Bluebird, is known as a popular '80s cover band, complete with monster hair, tattoos and leopard print spandex. Popular among IU students, the band will perform songs from Poison to Guns N' Roses.\n"Before I was 21, my brothers at the house always told me how awesome Hairbangers Ball were at Bluebird," said Alex Lesko, assistant director for major attractions. "Now for the first time, they'll be doing a show for all ages and bring in a broader audience."\nZimmerman said the Union Board has done something similar called Fusion for the past two years, but an '80s Prom Night is something different for IU students this fall.\n"Fusion is kinda like a rave that usually takes place in the spring," Zimmerman said. "The '80s Prom Night is a new fall event to start up for students."\nWith Homecoming weekend approaching, board members have expressed concerns of competition between other Homecoming events, but according to students, Union Board has always found ways to entertain everyone on campus. \n"It's good they put a lot of time and effort into this event," freshman Ben Petty said. "That way there is other things to do besides going out and getting drunk."\nUnion Board will have seven to eight workers on hand and volunteers from Bloomingkids to work the popcorn machine and hand out raffle tickets.\nOverall, Lesko said he thinks many students will be as enthusiastic about the event as he is.\n"I am a big fan of the '80s culture and music," Lesko said. "I expect this to be a decent event and a little experiment. We just want to give students what they want."\n-- Contact staff writer Marilyn Jaynes at mjaynes@indiana.edu.