That time of year is upon us once again where students test their creative skills harder than they have for any assignment in an attempt to be the best. That’s right it’s the lead up to the Summer Ball. But does the idea of constructing an original and funny costume really appeal to students, or would they rather end the year in style and get dressed up in their dinner jackets and ball gowns for a classic formal event?
The classic black tie scene is generally favoured for an end of year shindig, however the residents of Bournemouth University celebrate the end of the academic year (or the beginning of the summer) with student fancy dress festival. This, of course, promotes the idea of extreme creativity through which prestige is earned which makes it, at the end of the day, an amazing finishing the year. This is probably the reason why the event is so popular every year and sells out as quickly as it does.
As this annual function is organised by student for students, it would be believed that all the voices would be heard. Though, it appears some do not feel this way. Pelin Kayalar, a twenty-two year old leisure and hospitality student, is one example of the side that believes an end of year ball should be an opportunity to don ones best bib and tucker and drink champagne all night. Pelin said, ‘I don’t disagree with the fancy dress and the field, I just feel like the end of school or uni is that time of year where you’re allowed to get dressed up. There aren’t many other occasions when you can.’ Surprisingly, this idea that dressing fancy (rather than fancy dressing) is the way to celebrate the end of a hard year of working, is shared by both men and women. When Jonny Becker, who is twenty and studies architecture, was asked if the Summer Ball should be replaced with a formal do, he said, ‘Don’t get me wrong, I love the summer ball, but it’s not really a ball is it? It’s more of a party or a mini festival. A formal is just a nice end to the year.’
This idea came as quite a shock. The general consensus with students is that cheap and funny overpowers anything remotely classy. The idea of covering yourself in toilet roll tubes and painted card from your most recent crate of Stella ‘wife beater’ Artois sounds fun alone. Though when combined with going to a field, where there is no noise limit, to celebrate with alcohol fuelled stupidity, it sounds like the perfect afterlife of the student church. Although the morning after would feel like the death before. At least, it would be believed to be better than spending your loan on a slightly oversized tux from Moss Bros and spending the whole night avoiding any sort of stain that could empty your shallow pockets even further. Perhaps it’s the idea of living out immature fantasies, imposed by somewhat unrealistic gender associations. Namely, girls want to be Disney princesses who get to step down onto the dance floor with their prince and guys want to be James Bond and wear their bow tie down at the end of the night.
This said, the general opinion is still in favour of fancy dress. It appears that the cheap fun that comes with it does appeal to students. Bethany Ayres, a twenty-one year old paramedic student said, ‘It’s amazing! Running around looking at all the really creative and original costumes people have made if the best.’ Bethany’s believes that the Bournemouth University summer ball is a lot more exciting than having a formal event on the basis that the people who go do not look or feel uptight. They can make as much or as little effort as they want depending on how much money they are willing to spend. Let’s face it, not many students have suits or gowns in their wardrobe for three simple reasons: They are expensive, they have to be kept clean and they are not suited for a night on the town. Suits, unless you do business studies, do not fit into a student’s lifestyle. When asked why she feels the summer ball would be better or worse if it were a formal, nineteen year old Media student Tasha Cleary said, ’fancy dress it makes it a lot more fun. It encourages people to get involved more, it creates a festival feel and a relaxed environment for everyone to enjoy themselves. The competition to have the best costume is high. It brings out a friendly competitive atmosphere, gets students being creative and makes the build up to the whole day really big. It builds a huge hype around it all.’ Showcasing another supporter of the creative and dazzling summer ball. Her argument against the introduction of formal attire is that ‘formals to standard. They have the fresher’s ball at the start of the year, and that’s formal. I think it’s a good change to have it fancy dress. I don’t think people would make such a big fuss out of it if it was formal dress. Students want to have fun, and don’t have the money to pay out for tuxes and posh dresses.’
With the summer ball being a massive success every year and selling out months before the actual event, there would not be any need in taking a risk and changing it. The build up so far has everyone on campus talking about it, the head topic being ‘what can we go as?!’ Most would struggle to see that level of hype for an event that would undoubtedly drain the last of everyone’s student loans and would have a tedious look of March of the penguins about it. As well as this, the venue could cause troubles. It is common knowledge that people who aren’t students hate student, and that a large percentage of the public would like nothing more than to herd all the students into a field and let them entertain themselves away from the rest of living Bournemouth. Others would probably wish spiteful showers on them. But even last year the spirit of celebrating not seeing lecturers for four months could not be broken by the sudden downpour of rain. If fact, the change in weather made the fun loving atmosphere even stronger as it showed how fellow students were eager to show their commitment (or maintain their pride) by remaining for the duration of the night. Although this is arguable as most of the students interviewed at some point threw in their longing for good weather this year.
It seems that the high-spirited attitude towards the Summer Ball, whatever the weather, seems to be largely impacted by the theme of fancy dress. However incredible or disastrous the costumes are the wearers cannot wait to show them off, and whether they are getting laughs or admiration for their efforts, their fun seems to be amplified by the responses. It is understandable that the introduction of formal attire would generate a different atmosphere that would create a good night, however where students are concerned, it would not create as good a night.
SamBlog 