Honors students enjoy a night of masquerading at annual ball

Alumni Hall pulsated with music and multicolored lights as honors students cut loose for the 2nd Annual Hutton Honors College Formal Ball on Saturday at the Indiana Memorial Union.

Students flocked to the dance floor in everything from floor-length ball gowns and suits to cocktail dresses and jeans for the event with a masquerade theme.

Honors Student Organization Vice President and junior Alyssa Faughn said the HSO sought to offer students a chance to get dressed up and attend a dance, an opportunity she said is not often given to those outside the greek community.

Sophomore Ashley Winkle said she came with some of her friends.

“Some of our friends were going, and we just wanted to go and kind of make it a big deal, go out to dinner and everything,” she said.

As students crowded the dance floor or posed for pictures under the blue and purple balloon archway, others enjoyed refreshments or sat at tables strewn with feathers, glitter, sequins and glue to make custom masks.

WIUX-FM 99.1 provided music, gaining squeals with crowd favorites such as Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls.

“They have a good selection of music. It’s definitely better than my high school prom,” freshman Emily Deckard said.

Later in the night, members of the HSO were auctioned off for dances. Proceeds went to Partners In Health’s Haiti relief efforts.

Though many agreed it was a good cause, students said they most enjoyed the chance to relax with friends and dress up.

“I think people just come to party, to dance with friends,” freshman HSO member Emily Schultz said. “A lot of people have friends on their floor or in their classes. It’s just something different and relaxed.”

Freshman HSO member Mary Peters added, “I love having an excuse to wear my expensive dresses!”