The Mandela Room in the Old University Union will be full of music, dancing and decorations this Thursday night, as the Student Association Programming Board and Residential Life host their first ever student formal, the Winter Snow Ball.

The Winter Snow Ball is a semi-formal event sponsored by the SA programming board. All students are invited to attend and are asked to dress in semi-formal attire.

‘There is a consistent group of individuals on the Snow Ball Committee,’ says Justina DeMott, chair of the SAPB’s College Community Programming Committee, ‘including resident assistants who have contributed many hours to this event and are ready to have the Binghamton University students enjoy a stress-free night before finals begin.’

Students in attendance are asked to bring either $5, six cans of food or a new child’s toy to purchase tickets, which will be sold at the door.

All canned goods will be donated to CHOW, a Southern Tier charity organization that raises money and food for the hungry in the area. Any toys brought for admittance into the ball will be given to Toys for Tots as part of the SA’s Holiday Drive, which provides holiday gifts to local families in need.

Members of the SA said they hope that this year’s ball is the first of what could become an annual event.

‘Justina came up with the idea for the ball and I had confidence that she would be able to pull it off,’ said Sandi Dube, the SA’s vice president of programming. ‘This is a great event that can unite people from every community, including off campus, together. Organizations all have individual formals, but this brings everyone together.’

David Belsky, director of communications for the SA, echoed Dube’s sentiments concerning the event’s potential to bring a sense of oneness among BU students.

‘The Winter Snow Ball is an excellent step in the right direction for campus unity,’ says David Belsky. ‘Through programs like Campus Wars, Late Nite Madness, the Hooray! for Holidays event and now the Winter Snow Ball, the Student Association is making a huge commitment to improving the feelings of community and school spirit throughout Binghamton University.’

David Bass, president of the SA, agreed that the Winter Snow Ball is ‘an opportunity for BU students to have a great time, dance, dress up and raise money for charity.’

The Winter Snow Ball is one of many new events planned for the upcoming semester by the SA, with the help of the SAPB. The programming board will hold events such as lectures, travel opportunities, variety acts and competitions next semester, in addition to the SA’s annual concerts and festivals.