On Feb. 28, Fordham College at Lincoln Center’s (FCLC) annual semi-formal Winter Ball let down attendees with small portions of food, lackluster decorations and mediocre music.
The United Student Government and the Campus Activities Board hosted the event at The Current on Pier 59 of Chelsea Piers. Between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dozens of students in pairs and groups rolled into the venue, which was decorated with feathers, gold, jewels and sparkles, attempting to measure up to the theme of The Great Gatsby.
Upon checking in, each student received a masquerade mask with a name tag assigning them to a table. Small tables were placed around the room with feather centerpieces along with a bar serving drinks. The larger dining room was closed off with a curtain until dinner was served.
The night started off slow as people continued to enter the ballroom and converse amongst themselves. Hors d’oeuvres such as adobe short ribs, coconut shrimp and sweet chili lime chicken were served, along with signature mocktails such as the mango mule, and sodas.
After hors d’oeuvres were circulated, the curtains opened towards the dining tables, allowing attendees to find their seats. Each dining room table was decorated with vases filled with clear and black diamonds as the centerpiece. Pearls flowed over the vase as it sat upon a black glittery placemat. The lights danced on the ceiling and added a warm glow to the ballroom.
Most of the attendees dressed in traditional formal attire, including suits and dresses.
Despite the beauty of the decor, some attendees wrote that they felt as though the venue did not capture the theme and left much to be desired.
One guest in particular, Jacob Prior, Bentley University ’27, wrote he felt as though “the venue wasn’t really designed like the theme … which was a little disappointing.”
Although the theme was The Roaring ’20s or The Great Gatsby, Vice President of United Student Government at Lincoln Center (USGLC), Daphne Mei, FCLC ’26, also “saw an opportunity to incorporate elements from other themes, such as masquerade masks.”
However, as noted by Andy Martinez and Miranda Krasniqi, both FCLC ’27, most of the attendees dressed in traditional formal attire, including suits and dresses.
“My friends dressed up very accurately … two of them were dressed like flapper dancers,” Martinez wrote.
Krasniqi was concerned she would be the one of the only few who dressed in 1920s flapper attire and felt the lack of themed outfits took away from the overall theme of the dance.
Dinner was served a little after 8 p.m. Attendees started off with an appetizer, which was a Tuscan pear salad. According to Mei, USG and CAB reviewed the menu provided by The Current and narrowed down food options by considering the general preferences of attendees. Mei wrote they aimed to ensure a diverse selection including vegetarian and seafood options.
However, when the main course was served, some attendees were left confused because the tournedo of beef champignon was the only option given out. The original menu presented three options for a main course, with one featuring salmon and the other featuring vegetables. Attendees were able to indicate their choice upon purchasing their ticket.
Prior wrote that he “originally put in a request for salmon, but didn’t get it.”
When asked about the confusion, Mei wrote, “I noticed that many students at my table requested to switch their plates for a different dish to best fit their preference. Therefore, the option for other courses as stated in our menu was provided and served.”
Kendrick Lamar’s popular diss track “Not Like Us” also played, which got many people excited and on their feet.
Some attendees, like Renkas and Krasniqi, expressed dissatisfaction with the meals and portion sizes.
“I thought it tasted good, but … unfortunately, we were still left pretty hungry afterwards,” Krasniqi wrote.
Once dinner was completed, music filled the room as DJ 3NIGMA spun popular tunes. The artists featured included Drake, Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, Dua Lipa and many more. Kendrick Lamar’s popular diss track “Not Like Us” also played, which got many people excited and on their feet. However, the music seemed to be a hit or miss depending on the person.
“I think the music was pretty good. A lot of throwbacks for sure,” Krasniqi wrote.
While Renkas agreed with the quality of the music, he found faults as the music was “extremely loud and made it hard to hear.”
Martinez wrote he did not enjoy the music altogether, as he wrote he believed the “remixes and transitions left a lot to be desired.”
Mini desserts were served around 10 p.m. at a buffet-style spread near the bar. Included in the selection were huge strawberries, bite-sized cakes, tarts and brownies.
There was also a photobooth set up for attendees to take pictures with their friends. The photos could be downloaded and sent to an individual’s phone as a keepsake. The photobooth was a smashing success with the attendees there.
Krasniqi wrote that she “really enjoyed taking a bunch of pictures at the photo booth and around the venue with my friend group.”
The dance dwindled down around 11 p.m. as people began to grab their coats and depart the venue. The host left masks and costume pearl necklaces to be grabbed at a table before the attendees departed. Hot drinks like coffee and tea were also served, so individuals would have a warm beverage on their way out.
Although some attendees felt the dance was a bit of a letdown, the Winter Ball allowed students to dance and enjoy themselves.