Katie Samek – Staff Writer

The Diversity Leadership Council would like to formally invite the student body to the 13th annual Diversity Ball on Saturday, April 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in Alumni Hall. A dance will be held following the event downstairs in the Center for Inclusive Excellence starting at 10 p.m., and the Olin Observatory opens for the Diversity Ball Star Party at 10:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are no longer available, but both the dance and Star Party are free to attend.

This event will feature the aforementioned dinner, catered by the Dining Service here on campus, with special thanks from the DLC to Margi Wilmert. Following the meal, there will be an awards ceremony accompanied by several student performances. The dance, which runs from 10:00 p.m. to midnight, will feature live music from DJ Adam Nordquist, better known by his musical alias BSSDRVN (bass-driven). The Star Party, hosted in the Olin Observatory, will allow students the chance to view the Lyrids meteor shower set to occur that night.

While there is no set dress code for the event, formal attire is recommended as this is meant to be a more formal occasion. This year’s theme for the Diversity Ball is Together: We Are Golden and celebrates the strong sense of community that the student body at Gustavus has built over the 13 years this event has been hosted, both despite and because of its diversity.

The Diversity Ball has been a long-running event here at Gustavus, with the first such event being hosted in 2010. Hosted by the Diversity Leadership Council, this event has always consisted of a meal, a dance, and an awards show, though its venue has changed from both on and off campus from year to year, depending on funding. Other student groups on campus have assisted in hosting this event in years past, but this year full leadership was handed over to DLC.

“DLC has been at the forefront of organizing this event for years, and we appreciate all the hard work and dedication that goes into making it happen,” Sophomore and Diversity Leadership Council co-captain Filmon Fesshatsion said. “D-Ball started back in 2010 and has been an annual tradition ever since. Over the years, the event has changed from being off-campus to on-campus, and we’ve had formal dinners and dances.”

Students of all cultural backgrounds are encouraged to attend the event; not just for the food and the dance, but also to support their peers and learn about the rich tapestry of cultures that make up the Gustavus student body and faculty.

“D-Ball is eye-opening for students who don’t have a lot of exposure to other cultures,” the event co-coordinator, Junior Kate Dario said. “People should attend to support their peers that are a part of who they are; plus, they get to dress up and have some yummy food while they’re at it.”

Similar sentiments were shared by the other members of DLC, with all of them encouraging the student body to attend the event in some capacity; whether it be the dinner, the dance, the Star Party, or a mix of all three. They also expressed their gratitude to the Gustavus faculty for supporting this event, and hope that it can continue for many years to come.

“This is such a special event for the Gustavus community to come together and celebrate all of the different cultures at Gustavus,” Senior and Diversity Leadership Council co-captain Laurel Ward said. “Students have the opportunity to learn about their peers, dress up, go dancing, and enjoy student and faculty talent and recognition all while enjoying a delicious dinner and dessert.”

“D-Ball is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about and appreciate different cultures, dress up, and have a great time. It’s also an occasion to celebrate the achievements of DLC and recognize the outstanding work that students and faculty do to make Gustavus a welcoming and inclusive place,” Dario said.

“I want to emphasize that D-Ball is a special event that brings our community together. Once again, thank you to Margi, my fellow co-captain Laurel, Kate, and the entire DLC e-board membership for their hard work and dedication to making this event happen,” Fesshatsion said.