First-years have a fresh perspective on Drag Ball

They're still new to the campus, but they know what's going on

The youngest and most innocent of our peers, the first-years of Oberlin, are planning to turn out in enthusiastic droves for the Drag Ball this Saturday night. What is the strange attraction for these students to pay the stiff five dollars (and presumably more for clothes and accessories) to attend? What compels first-years to be so zealous about an event which they know about only secondhand or through overwhelming advertising?

"I'd feel left out if I didn't go," said one first-year, who wished to remain unidentified but who speaks for many first-years planning to attend.

"The idea seems interesting," admitted David Ellis, a first-year who says that most of his friends are planning on attending. "It's a fun thing," Ellis said and talked about helping two girls teach a fellow male Barrows resident how to walk like a woman.

"Everybody's going. It's the `alternative' thing to do," said Arthur Simon, first-year. Simon isn't going for the glam look; he's planning on dressing frumpy and going to the ball "to amuse myself by watching all the people who take this seriously."

A female first-year who wished to remain anonymous said that she's helping some of her male friends with their makeup and outfits and is attending the ball to see her creations in action.

First-year Pat Coleman said that the Drag Ball "sounds like a hoot" so he's not going to miss it. Ariel Evnine, another first-year, noted that it's supposed to be one of the 10 biggest college parties in the country and that he's going to be there.

I remember my own first-year experience as being a bit disappointing, not because it wasn't fun to dress up and dance and see everyone's outlandish outfits, but because for some reason I bought into the idea that it would be more than that.

I had been barraged all week by kooky signs and suggestive pictures, rumors about MTV coming to the party and friends pestering me to go. So my attendance was more out of a feeling that I had to go, because it's one of those uniquely Oberlin traditions, because everyone I knew would be there, not because I had some original undying desire to go.

But this year, because my friend is letting me borrow his tuxedo and my roommate gave me a fake mustache to wear, I can't wait to go. So if I can offer a word of advice to all those sheepish first-years out there, following the crowd to Wilder on Saturday night, get bedazzled and go all out. Be the belle of the ball.