News > September 6, 2007

By Meg Upton | Contributing writer

In the fall of 2005, when University President Nathan O. Hatch first came to the university community, an Inaugural Ball was held to celebrate his arrival.

It was so successful that another ball is being planned for this fall. The Presidential ball will be held from 9 p.m. - 1 a.m. Oct. 13 at the M.C. Benton Jr. Convention and Civic Center downtown.

The theme for this ball is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s seminal novel The Great Gatsby. Daniel described the event as a 1920s, swanky throwback night.

This year’s ball will be free, although it is a ticketed event, similar in that sense to the Secrest Artist Series held each year.

The tickets are meant to give the planners an idea of the number of attendees.

Invitations will be disseminated to the whole community, chair of public relations and invitations senior Will Daniel said.

“Everyone’s going to get something in their box wherever that is,” he said.

As with the Inaugural Ball held two years ago, the entire university community, including undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, maintenance workers, ARAMARK employees and more will be invited.

He said the ball committee hopes the event will be held every other year.

The first ball was well-attended by about 4,000 people from every area of university life, and the planning committee is hoping for the same great turnout this year.

“So many students and faculty and alumni loved the event that they wanted to see it come back,” said committee member Carolyn Harbaugh.

Much detailed planning is required to create an enjoyable event, and the committee is working on bringing different bands to suit different tastes, as well as arranging transportation for students without cars, Daniel said.

The Inaugural Ball featured a more low-key band on the upper level of the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum as well as a main stage with a band geared more toward students.

The layout worked well so the committee is trying to recreate it this year.

The Inaugural Ball was held two years ago to commemorate Hatch’s inauguration as the university’s 13th president, taking over the position from President Emeritus Thomas K. Hearn Jr.

Hatch himself decided to throw an event for the entire university community including alumni, undergraduates and graduate students.

About 50 students dreamed up the ball at a leadership retreat.

The catered event took over the Joel and transformed it into a ballroom with live bands, including Snackbar Jones and a jazz quartet.

Kathy Arnett, the associate director of Benson, helped start the project and felt strongly about repeating it.