While the unanticipated large attendance of this weekend's Fall Ball may have been "a welcome surprise to the event's organizers," ("Fall Ball extends a hearty welcome to 3,700 students," Sept. 13) many of the attendees felt unimpressed and even terrified as they entered the building.
For a half an hour, I was pushed, trampled upon and had to fight for breath as I made my way down the hallway leading to the gym. Students simply flooded the enclosed space, attempting to get to the other side. Although one could briefly seek safety in small nooks throughout the hallway, turning back seemed even more futile than getting to the gym.
Everyone was simply squished together to the point that the crowd swayed in unison as people pushed and yelled at one another. One kid decided to take advantage of the mosh pit-like atmosphere, attempting to crowd surf to the front. As I was pushed towards that direction, I found the people in navy blue shirts labeled "Event Staff" even more frustrating than the trapped students. One of them put their arm around my entire waist, holding me back and ignoring my attempts to explain the chaos behind me.
The unresponsive nature of the staff prolonged the negative side effects of a poorly planned entrance. It was just as frustrating to be liberated from the claustrophobia when it seemed impossible to help the people who remained. Although the remaining students were eventually let in more quickly without having their IDs checked, the event staff and the Daily should not overlook the major flaws of this event.
Nina Salpeter
LA '07
