The Article below was published in Vol. 135, Issue 6 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on March 6, 2020.
By Jovana Jovanovska ’23
Staff Writer
This year’s Winter Gala took place on Saturday, February 22 at Joe’s Live in Rosemont, IL. Students could purchase refundable tickets in advance for $20, which were able to be reimbursed after the students confirmed their attendance at Joe’s Live. The tickets for non-Lake Forest College students were non-refundable and cost $50. Since the moment the event was first introduced by the Gates Center, students were very excited for the night to come.
This year’s event was the sixth Winter Gala in its current form. Prior to 2015, the United Black Association (UBA) sponsored an event called Winter Ball, which followed a similar model. Winter Ball, however, was not on the same scale as the Winter Gala in terms of location, cost, and the number of attendees. The current form of the Gala is a joint effort between UBA, Student Government, and the Student Programming Board. According to Pat Doggett, associate director of the Gates Center, 570 tickets were sold or deposited for this year’s event and 526 people attended. When asked how long it takes to plan such an event, Doggett said that the planning process for Winter Gala can take anywhere between six months to a year, but the bulk of the work is done in the four months leading up to the event. The school is committed to making this event an enjoyable time for the students. “We have already discussed the 2021 Winter Gala date with venues, “ Doggett stated.
On the night of the event, students were ready to have a fun night with their friends. For attendees that chose to use the transportation organized by the College, check-in began at 8:00 p.m. in the Mohr Student Center. Even before 8:00 p.m., there was a long line in the Student Center with students waiting to leave for Joe’s Live. Stentor staff spoke with several students as they waited to board the buses. Astrid Houzé ’23, an art history major, shared: “I’m a freshman so this is my first Winter Gala. I’m going to the event with my girl squad.”
After all of the students had their College ID’s checked, the buses departed at 8:15 p.m. The atmosphere on the buses was very lively, as many students were singing and having fun with their friends. Jerries Azar ’22, a sophomore majoring in international relations and Asian studies, shared: “It was very organized, we came to the buses and they took us directly to the venue.” He went to the event with his friends and it was his second time attending. The check-in at the event began at 9:00 p.m in the lobby of Joe’s Live, where the students were greeted by members of College staff. At the entrance, students had their belongings checked before they entered the venue and received a wristband for the event.
From the moment people started coming to the venue, the dance floor was filled, and this stayed the case for the rest of the night. Angela Addante ’22, a sophomore at the College, said it was very fun to dance all night. It was Addante’s first Winter Gala and she went with a couple of girls from Lake Forest College and two friends from her hometown. Joe’s Live had a large dance floor, a few tables for students to relax and chat with their friends, and very delicious food. All of the students the Stentor interviewed mentioned that the food was amazing and that they really liked it. The venue offered pizza, macaroni and cheese, salad, and a few other options.
The event lasted until 1:00 a.m. At the end, students could choose to ride back to campus on buses provided by the College. Students expressed frustration with a hectic boarding process on the return trip, and freshman Grace Glaszcz ’23 stated, “I think having buses at multiple times would have been a good idea instead of making the bus leaders . . . freak out so much.” Glaszcz said she had a good time and that it was fun to get dressed up and be with her friends. She went to the event with her friends and her boyfriend from a different college.
Overall, many students commented that the Gates Center did an amazing job of organizing the event and making it a special night for all the people who attended. The students were thrilled with the event and made memories that they will treasure forever.
