Though Nick Carraway and his Long Island neighbors were nowhere to be found, a record number of freshmen donned tuxedos and gowns, strutting their stuff en route to the Freshman Formal.
Nearly a dozen silver balloons greeted the 777 members of the Class of 2011 who made their way to the Quadrangle Club for the annual event. This was the first year in which an official count was taken, organizers said. Officers from the Class of 2010 estimated that between 300 and 400 people attended their formal last year.
Rosen credited the super-sized crowd to the intense efforts of organizers to make the event known to every member of their class.
“We put a lot of effort into advertising,” Rosen explained. “Apart from class e-mails, we had posters made and put them up around campus. We had really nice invitations made and then hand delivered them to the doors of every freshman dorm. We really wanted to get the word out because we were confident this was going to be a great event.”
To provide a memorable evening, event planners spared no expense. While the final expenditures are still being processed, class treasurer Jonathan Gary ‘11 expected the evening’s costs to run between $4,000 and $6,000, which he said was normal for freshman formals.
“We put a lot of effort into making this a really classy event,” Rosen said. “We offered a band and a DJ, which I don’t think had ever been done in the past. We offered a wide variety of food, some of which was served on trays by waiters.”
Amid the loud conversation, mingling and constant picture taking, Kati Herrera ‘11 noticed a few outfits she hadn’t been expecting.
“There was a guy in a dress,” she said. “He was wearing this long dress that was black with red roses. I don’t know if it was some sort of statement or something. I’d never seen him before. There were also a couple guys wearing baseball caps.”
“It was completely packed,” she said. “There were people everywhere. But it wasn’t as hot as it usually is when people are that packed, which was nice.”
Herrera added that the event was a great opportunity to catch up with classmates she hadn’t seen in a while and to meet new people.
Read More
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson reflects on path to the Supreme Court in campus lecture
Isaac Bernstein and Justus WilhoitAt Princeton’s Harlan Lecture, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson discussed her journey to the Supreme Court, the power of dissenting opinions, and the importance of inspiring future generations.
At Princeton’s Harlan Lecture, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson discussed her journey to the Supreme Court, the power of dissenting opinions, and the importance of inspiring future generations.
Student employment in flux as University navigates budget cuts
Kian PetlinThe future of student employment remains uncertain amid budget cuts, with impacts ranging from reduced hours to staffing shortages.
The future of student employment remains uncertain amid budget cuts, with impacts ranging from reduced hours to staffing shortages.
Five percent of Class of 2029 identify as Black or African-American, lowest since 1968
Sena ChangIn the Class of 2029, 5 percent of students identified as Black or African American — the lowest share in many years, compared to the roughly seven to nine percent range in the past two decades.
In the Class of 2029, 5 percent of students identified as Black or African American — the lowest share in many years, compared to the roughly seven to nine percent range in the past two decades.