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Following the hugely successful Inaugural Ball last year, members of the college community are invited to attend the Second Annual Presidential Ball 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26 in the Bergethon Room, Marquis Hall.
Gourmet hors d’oeuvres and a chocolate fountain will be available. The event is semi-formal, and black-tie is welcome. There is no entrance fee; however, the ball is open only to the Lafayette community.
The event is sponsored by the Office of the President, Board of Trustees, Office of Student Life Programs, Student Government, and Lafayette Activities Forum (LAF).
Entertainment will once again be provided by the George Gee Orchestra, a swing band based in New York City. A nationally renowned musician, Gee is the only Chinese American big band leader and has been featured on PBS’ “Live at Lincoln Center.” The band takes its inspiration from Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Frank Sinatra.
“The attendance numbers were wonderful last year,” says Pam Brewer, associate dean of students and director of student life programs. “It was also great to see the students adjust to the big band music. The George Gee band was fabulous. The students were hesitant at first to dance to music that was not familiar to them, but by the end of the night, the floor was packed with students swinging each other all over the place and having a fabulous time.”
The tradition began last year when the Office of Student Life Programs was asked to plan a student event to celebrate the inauguration of President Dan Weiss. American studies graduate Kelly Barrows ’06, who was executive chair of LAF at the time, suggested the planning committee organize a ball for the college community. A committee consisting of LAF and Student Government leaders, Brewer, and Lauren Ibbotson, assistant director of student life programs, planned the event. The success of last year’s ball led the Board of Trustees to request that the ball be made an annual tradition.