For students, the end of the semester is packed with final exams and projects. One way students can decompress as they prepare for the busy weeks ahead is one of the last Orange After Dark events of the semester.

In its inaugural year, the OAD year-end formal offers an opportunity for students on campus to throw on their favorite attire and dance the night away with friends. The dance, open to all students, will take place on Friday at 10 p.m. in the Regency Ballroom at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center.

Attendees can expect an elegant, prom-like atmosphere with balloons, high top tables and a photo booth. DJ Maestro — who provided the playlist for OttoTHON a few weeks ago — will be playing music.

The Sheraton will cater appetizers that students can eat throughout the night. Kaleigh Young, an OAD event board member, hinted at a potential “signature mocktail” to complete the event’s theme.

Nikki Bracci, the OAD event board member in charge of organizing the formal, said there will also be a special guest appearance.

“Otto’s going to be there,” she said. “We are trying to get Otto in a bow tie.”

Although Otto is dressing up, attendees aren’t required to. Every student who comes can dress however they choose, whether that choice is a ball gown or sweatpants.

While some formal dances expect attendees to come with a date, OAD’s event doesn’t require it. Young anticipates seeing many couples and friend groups, especially because the formal is an opportunity to spend the night together before leaving for the holidays.

The idea of the formal grew from the success of OAD’s “Black Panther” screening this past February. The students loved how they could dress up and spend the evening in a more elegant environment, so OAD brainstormed how they could offer more events similar to the movie premiere.

“This campus likes formals,” said Courtney Jones, associate director of the Office of Student Activities, “and this is an alternative of sorts to those in Greek life.”

The OAD event board members are predicting a great turnout and are confident in attendees’ feedback. Young said she thinks the dance will be one of the best events of the fall semester. The event promotes OAD’s goal as an organization to provide students fun, safe and inclusive ways to spend their weekends for little-to-no charge.

“I want everyone to feel like they’re going to have the best night of their lives on a random Friday in November,” said Bracci, who has spent the last few months organizing the event to live up to the standards that students expect from OAD events.

If the night is successful, OAD hopes to make the year-end formal an annual event and will help expose students to other events that they offer, including their upcoming Pancake Breakfast Stressbuster and their Late Night Movie series.

Tickets can be purchased at the Schine Box Office for $3, which includes admission and food.

Published on November 27, 2018 at 9:32 pm