Thank you to whoever came up with the idea of formals for the formal-less: the unaffiliated and us hapless freshmen. While I have no knowledge of Greek formals to compare them too, I'll do my best to rate these options using what I've gleaned from hearsay and the Overheards. Ready to break out that outfit you've had stuffed in the back of your closet for the last term and a half? Read on.
Ledyard Formal: 8 out of 10
Pros: It's down by the River, which is a nice change of scene and provides much in the way of cool photo-ops and midnight soirees. It could also be the perfect preface to your completion of the Ledyard Challenge. Streaking occurs quite often, and from what I've gathered from hearsay, of course there are shot-skis. First-term freshmen are often tricked into wearing actual formal attire. (Clearly I learned that from hearsay too.)
Cons: It's down by the River, which makes for an uncomfortably long walk back, especially if you're wearing heels. Also, in the Fall, the Sun God was camped outside taking pictures of us. Hopefully that isn't a tradition.
Freshman Formal: 5 out of 10
Pros: For many of us, it's the only formal available, and thus, our only chance to dress up and get ferried around (for all of 30 seconds) in fancy limos. The music wasn't bad, it's a chance to see your class out in its finest and it's something exclusively for freshmen we're not at the mercy of upperclassmen to gain entrance. Pregaming seems to be the way to go, and those chintzy hors d'oeuvres weren't so bad, either.
Cons: The formal itself is a completely sober event, and Alumni Hall is a really large space for however many freshmen actually attended. (Maybe this is just me getting used to the cramped, dark, way-past-drunk places freshmen usually tend to hang out.) Because of that, it tends to feel something like a high school dance awkward circles of friends, the gray area between conversation and dancing, and too much hanging out by the food tables for the dance itself to be good.
Running Formal: 8 out of 10
Pros: According to Kate Sullivan '13, Running Formal is a chance for the team to celebrate, get together and wear something nice. "For once, we're not all covered in mud," Sullivan said. Although it's not an established tradition, Sullivan sees it as a great way for the team to spend time together outside of running. Running Formal attendees this past year agreed that their favorite part of the night was decorating a secluded FoCo table with wrapping paper, fake snow and army men.
Cons: You must be or be with a runner to attend. Ready to start hitting the pavement?
Dog Day Formal: unrated
Pros: This is the event I look forward to every term. Dog Day Formal is hard to describe: it is mysterious, tantalizing and just plain weird. In previous years it may or may not have involved a non-hostile takeover of the Pavilion, multiple drunken processions, cup-stacking, group yoga, a nighttime cruise on the River, loud monotonic singing, the Great Depression, a compulsory trip to that old women's clothing store by Mai Thai, wedding trademarks, the Dalai Lama, therapeutic origami, chicken nuggets, knitting, Mad Libs, Dollar Store decorations, little statues of people and little animals, pocket Bibles, poetic readings of cookbooks, massage trains, magic and moose.
Cons: It's very hard to explain without sounding completely nuts.
