Students arrived in their finest attire to the Masquerade Ball, hosted by recognized student organization Sister Circle Thursday, October 19. The second floor memorial ballroom was decked out with fairy lights, balloon clusters and a dancefloor disco ball. The event featured a 360-photo booth and food including eggrolls, dumplings, and meatballs. 

Sister Circle hosted a prom last year, but because the Pride student organization hosts a prom in April, Sister Circle wants to continue hosting the masquerade ball in October as something of their own.  “The masquerade ball we’re doing tonight, we eventually want to make it an annual thing” says Sister Circle Vice President Clarice Nichols. “It highlights our femininity that sometimes gets washed away.”

Sister Circle was established as an official student organization in September, 2022. “Sister Circle is safe space for women created by women of color on campus because sometimes we don’t necessarily have an area that looks like us, you know we go to our classes and it’s not as diverse. So we wanted to make a safe place for all women where we can go and express how we feel and stuff like that.” Said Nichols. 

At the end of the night Clarice Nichols was selected as Belle of the Ball, and Coby Smith as Bachelor of the ball, and the two shared a dance. 

Bachelor of the Ball, Coby Smith, is in a different RSO called Men of Excellence that sometimes collaborates with Sister’s Circle. “Honestly we just get together and hang out,” says Coby. “Like we went to Worlds of Fun before as a group, just some of the board members and I think it’s a good time just getting to know people and getting a good bond between each other.” 

For more information on Sister Circle, Men of Excellence, and other recognized student organizations, go online to Hornet Central and fill out an inquiry form or visit the Center for Student Involvement in the Memorial Union on campus.