By
Maya Schechter
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Theme and cost not yet determined
Plans for Fall Ball 2000 are well underway, thanks to UA students' interest in the event.
More than 400 of 650 University of Arizona students indicated that they want to see the schoolwide formal event take place, said ASUA Sen. Matt Bailey.
"I am extremely excited and my staff is elated to start working on the event," Bailey said.
The students surveyed varied in ages and majors, he added.
"We wanted to reach out to random groups of people that represented different demographics of the campus," Bailey said.
Bailey, who proposed the idea of Fall Ball in his campaign last spring, said surveys were sent out to fraternities, sororities, and passed out in several lectures and classrooms. Surveys were also distributed to Arizona Blue Chip - a leadership program in which students from different backgrounds are involved.
Communication freshman Kristen Johnson said she thinks Fall Ball would be "really cool," and said she would be interested in attending the event.
"I think it would be really fun to get dressed up and go with all my friends," Johnson said.
She said she didn't think a university - especially one as large as the UA - ever holds dances, and that it is a great idea to bring all the students together.
"One of the most fun things about high school is prom so it would be cool to have it at college too," Johnson said.
Psychology freshman Elizabeth Brewster said she thinks Fall Ball is a good idea, although it may be too similar to high school dances.
"Most people usually like to go out to clubs to dance, but I think if you went with a big group of people to Fall Ball, it could be a lot of fun," Brewster said.
Brewster said that she would be willing to pay between $20 and $40 for a ticket, depending on the events at the dance.
Ticket costs for Fall Ball are not set because the staff is in the process of working on the budget, Bailey said.
"I think students would want to go because it's something new and different to do on a Saturday night," said Khameraun Wilson, a media arts sophomore.
Wilson said he thinks he would have fun with a big group of friends or with a date - either way, it would be a chance for students to meet new people.
The Associated Students of the UA approved the Fall Ball project last night at their Senate meeting.
Erick Negri, ASUA executive vice president, said he likes the idea of Fall Ball, and knows that the rest of the Senate support the project.
"I am in full support of Sen. Bailey and will help him in any way he needs me," Negri said.
Bailey said that he wants to emphasize that Fall Ball will not be just a dance - there will be many different events to make the evening a "whole night of fun."
