Like prom, but outside plus live music, minus shoes. This is how first-year Mary Allain described the barefoot formal that took place on Saturday, Apr. 18.
She and first-year Marybeth Murray, both independents, went to Goodwill and bought prom dresses to wear. Murray paid $12 for a dress that Cinderella would have worn, and Allain’s strapless black dress was only $3.75.
“At first I was worried that it was one of those dances that only the freshmen get into, and I was going to look like a dork. But then it was really fun, and I mean who doesn’t like wearing a prom dress?” said Murray.
“The whole event felt really inclusive,” said Allain. “The fact that it was outside made it so that anybody could just stop by if they wanted to.”
Attendees danced under a large tent in front of the stage on the Reid side lawn. Red Light Blue Light, the Raptivists and Danger Mermaid performed live music. The dance also included snacks and space heaters.
Kate Newman, a sophomore who is VP programming for Panhellenic Council, said that she hoped this dance, and Greekend in general, would help the sororities and fraternities unite and reach out to the Whitman community.
“I think Greekend will at least give people a better idea of greek life, because obviously there are a lot of preconceived notions about it. I think it’s a good way to foster relationships and perhaps draw people in, but at least show them that we’re not scary,” she said.
However, both Murray and Allain said that while they enjoyed the dance, it didn’t feel like a greek event since most of the people who they saw there weren’t greek. In fact, according to Murray and Allain, many sorority and fraternity members seemed to be absent.
But some greek members thought that the event had a sizable attendance. First-year and member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Becca Young said that, depending on the band, the area would fill up pretty quickly. “It seemed like more came for the Raptivists, and they’re kind of a big hit,” she said.
Seth Zippel, senior and bass guitarist for the Raptivists, also felt that the formal didn’t do a lot to promote greek life.
He added, however, that the concept of the Barefoot Formal was a good one.
“I like the idea of just having a dance outside with live music. That’s something that doesn’t happen often. It’s really fun to play outside, and I think it would be fun to dance outside, especially on such a nice night. I liked that the bike race was going on nearby, too,” said Zippel.
Sophomore and independent Anna Sky said that, for her, the dance this year was somewhat of a letdown in comparison to last year.
“There was a lot of hype about it and I remember last year it was a lot of fun. But this year it was pretty much all freshmen, and I didn’t feel like it was super well attended when I was there,” she said. “I didn’t see many people I knew.”
Sky agrees with the aim of Greekend in general, though.
“I think it’s great to see the greek members outside of the usual party scene. People often create unfair stereotypes based on those events so it’s important that greek life puts on these kinds of events to show this other side of them. It helps to bridge the divide between the greek system and the rest of Whitman,” she said.
Murray also said that she feels a divide, and that she’s not comfortable going to other greek events that aren’t specifically intended to be inclusive like the Barefoot Formal citing that didn’t “feel welcome.”
Allain feels there should be more all-inclusive functions like this, because it’s the only type of greek-run event that she feels comfortable attending.
“When events are between one frat and one sorority, and there’s alcohol involved, and it’s during the week, I just don’t feel welcome,” she said.
First-year Kappa Kristina Smith said that while attendance fluctuated throughout the event, there was “definitely a good turnout from the greek system” in addition to other independent Whitman students.
