Dolled-up Tuftonians danced the night away at the sixth annual Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) Semi-Formal last Friday at the Back Bay Hilton. All proceeds from ticket sales went to the Unity Fund of Massachusetts, which will provide support for Massachusetts families affected by the Sept. 11 tragedy.
About 576 students attended the event, according to LCS Vice-President senior Kristy Tough, who estimated that $6,900 in charity was collected.
Tough and LCS president Allison Collins organized the event over the summer. The planning, they said, was not difficult because the dance does not change much from year to year. LCS is the largest student organization on campus.
"It makes it a lot easier that it's been done before," Collins said.
The Back Bay Hilton was helpful in accommodating LCS, Collins said. The hotel covers the cost of servers and bartenders after LCS buys a certain amount of food. "We offer only a certain budget and they help out," Collins said. This year the gourmet food offerings included sushi.
School buses, departing from the campus center, transported students to and from the Hilton from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. With transportation provided, needed only to find semi-formal attire, which ranged from black pants and blouses to long dresses for women and ties and slacks for men. "It's a really classy event - a hassle-free time for a great cause," Tough said.
But some students encountered some inconvenience when boarding the school buses. There was a large rush onto the buses when they first arrived at the campus center. "People were a little inconsiderate and pushy, and we got separated from our group," said sophomore Seth Groman, adding that he wished the transportation were better organized.
But Groman emphasized that crowded buses could not ruin the evening. "Despite these things, we had a great time," he said.
Freshman Caryn Harris agreed that there was some trouble with the buses. "Getting on the buses was a bit of a hassle, but I thought the dance overall was organized pretty well," Harris said.
To Harris, the good cause made going to the dance worthwhile. "Knowing that it was raising money for the victims and victims' families of the tragedy made me want to go and help out," she said.
Historically, the LCS semi-formal proceeds have gone to a local charity, alternating between Medford and Somerville charities every year, but the Sept. 11 attack made the organization look outside the local community.
"This year, in response to what happened, we've done things like the blood drive, but we wanted to do something monetary that we could give to the [Unity Fund]," Tough said.
Some students said that donating to the Unity Fund helped them justify the $12 ticket price for the semi-formal. Sophomore and Queens, NY native Vera Tatel made a last minute decision to attend. "I definitely was not going to go at first because I just hadn't planned on going," Tatel said. "I think [the Unity Fund] helped in making my decision."
But there were some students who would have attended the semi-formal regardless of which charity LCS chose to receive the funds. "I had a really good time last year, and this year I knew a lot more of my friends were going, so I would've gone anyway," sophomore Valerie Wencis said. "But the fact that it is for the Sept.11 tragedy makes it all the more meaningful."
For coordinators Collins and Tough, it was satisfying to see their plans materialize. "It's exciting from this standpoint to see that people are excited about it and how much money we're making for a charity," Collins said. "It's neat how so many people are willing to help out; people who are in LCS and people who might not even know what LCS is. It gets a lot of different people involved."
Tough agreed: "It's exciting and nerve-wracking because we want it to go well," she said before Friday's event.
Part of the LCS budget pays for the event, which is also sponsored by organizations and departments including the Office of the President, Community Relations Department, Office of the Provost, the student senate, Tufts Spirit Coalition, Tufts Republicans, and Hillel. Co-sponsors donate anywhere from $100 to $500.
The Unity Fund, part of the United Way of Mass., will use the contribution to help people in Eastern Massachusetts affected by the Sept. 11 tragedy. Through approved agencies, donations are distributed to "helping families and children cope, providing counseling, and promoting tolerance and anti-violence in our local communities," according to the organization's website.
For students, the evening was a chance to do something different, to get all dressed up, and to dance for a charitable cause. And to sophomore Lauren Weintraub, Friday's dance gave her a "break from the usual frat scene."
