Mason to hold prom

George Mason University will hold its first formal dance on April 16 and is describing the event as a college prom. The prom will take place at the Mason Inn and will run from 7 – 11 p.m.

Free tickets were available at the Student Government office. An email was sent to students on April 13.

The event’s Facebook page invited students to “relive” their high school proms or “create another night of amazing memories.”

A stretch limousine was slated to pick up students at various points around Patriot Circle and drop them off at the Mason Inn.

Prom organizers hoped to use the occasion of the Mason dance to collect donations for a similar event at the Sloan-Kettering Pediatric Cancer Center in New York.

“Help [these] children…by giving them the prom of their lives!” the Facebook page declared. “Bring your gently used formal wear…to any housing area desk.”

Donation kiosks were also set up in the Johnson Center.

Some students reacted with surprise to the announcement that Mason would be holding the type of formal dance usually associated with high schools.

“I wasn’t aware that colleges had proms,” said Gabriela Barahona, a freshman art history major. “I would possibly go, but I don’t have a dress.”

Nicette Wolford, a freshman criminology major, applauded the prom’s philanthropic motives but did not plan to attend.

“I could donate, but going’s not my thing,” Wolford explained. “It wasn’t my thing in high school, either.”

Tommy Buckley, a junior social work major, thought that the prom fit Mason’s personality.

“I didn’t expect a prom, but it seems like Mason is always trying to do different events,” he said. “I guess it’s not very surprising.”

As of Friday evening, 164 students had indicated through Facebook that they would attend the dance.