By Alyssa Poteat
Swing back into the time of Speakeasy, pearls, feathers, and flappers as SGPA has announced the theme of the annual Red Rose Ball to be the Roaring 20’s!
Red Rose Ball is typically held in the spring semester during the traditional calendar year, sporting various themes throughout the years. It is a formal prom-like dance, providing food and alcoholic beverages (to those of age) to students. But, what exactly is the history of this tradition, and when did it start?
According to Dawn Dillon, the director of first year experience, “The tradition was formerly known as the Spring Dance which started in the early 1960s and typically held in April. It was renamed to Red Rose Ball in the 1990s but still was held in the spring.”
Excitement is buzzing across campus as various tablings have popped up across campus, promoting the sale of the tickets and the date.
According to a poll of fourteen students, eight said they were planning to attend the Red Rose Ball on Friday, March 22 at the Seaboard Station.
With Red Rose having such a long history, there are a lot of new adaptations to the tradition that may not have happened in years past. For example, the yearly theme is a newer concept brought up by recent SGPA Eboards.
Kristin Koch, the Director of Student Involvement has been at WPU for the past two years and has had first hand experience planning Red Rose Ball.
“In recent years, Red Rose Ball has consistently had a theme,” Koch said. “In the past, there wasn’t really a theme, it was just a formal dance.”
Another tradition SGPA has honored is the attire. In years past, attendees were expected to wear strictly formal attire. Now, that has changed.
“Many students still dress formally for the event, but others dress according to the theme of the event,” Koch said. “I love this change because I think it makes the event more inclusive for those who don’t feel comfortable in formal attire or even those who may not be able to afford formal attire.”
Mya Sampson is the Traditions Coordinator for the 2023-2024 SGPA Eboard and plans all aspects of Red Rose, including this year’s theme. Which was selected in an exciting way.
“This year’s theme is something that is unique but also very well known,” Sampson said. “I was listening to The 1 by Taylor Swift and came across a lyric, ‘Roaring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool,’ it gave me the idea of having a Roaring 20s theme for the Red Rose Ball this year.”
The Roaring 20’s is a unique time in history that is known for its lavish fashion and distinct colors of black and gold.
“The Roaring 20s was a fascinating time of glitz and glamor, and incorporating it into this year’s ball would be a great way to experience that era,” Sampson said. “The Roaring 20s theme is timeless and will create an unforgettable event.”
The planning for Red Rose takes months in advance, from finding and booking the venue to ensuring all decorations and food are appropriate to the theme. Planning Red Rose takes a lot of effort both by Mya and her Advisor, Christine O’ Donnell the Associate Director of Student Life.
This Red Rose is O’Donnell’s first Red Rose Ball, and her first time assisting in planning it.
“I’m most excited to see how it all comes together,” O’Donnell said. “The students in SGPA work really hard to program events that are fun and engaging for other students, and Red Rose Ball is definitely an event that they put their all into making memorable.”
