by Billy Findley
Copy Editor
The theme this year, Black Tie-White Christmas, was not the first theme idea SGA members settled on, but one which was spurred a desire to be creative and original after the Office of Student Life turned down their first theme idea.
“The first time I heard of the theme [Black Tie-White Christmas] I wasn’t sold on it,” Senior Class President Trent Gay said.
The original theme was going to be “Nightmare before Christmas,” based off the 1993 Disney animated film. The Office of Student Life turned down this theme, which led the senior SGA to go with their backup option: Black Tie-White Christmas.
“We wanted to do another movie theme,” Senior Class Vice President Garrett McIntyre said. “I knew I wanted to do something that was kind of outside the box.”
Past banquets have included movie themes like “The Polar Express,” theme of last year’s Christmas banquet, and “Batman Begins” in last semester’s spring banquet. Unfortunately, it was difficult to make the nightmare theme “Christmasy,” according to McIntyre.
Gay says he anticipates that some students will expect a mere “status quo” banquet because the black tie theme doesn’t sound very colorful. However, the senior SGA plans to up the ante this year with some spectacular plans for decorating and entertainment.
“I’m really glad the first idea wasn’t been approved because we’ve come up with some great ideas for this theme,” Gay said.
The banquet is going to emanate a classy, 1940’s atmosphere with live jazz music and plenty of elegant décor, according to McIntyre.
However, emphasis on artistic design and decorations is taking a backseat to the attention SGA is placing on guest participation.
Unlike most banquets where the majority of the entertainment takes place on stage, most of the entertainment is going to be at the tables, according to Senior Minister to Men Chris Tuttle. Both Gay and McIntyre said they want guests to be interacting with each other. SGA plans to have each table supplied with gingerbread house materials when guests come in, and there’s going to be a gingerbread house-decorating competition.
SGA is also placing a significant emphasis on a quality dinner this banquet. The main course will probably be prime rib, but there will also be several ornate desserts that will hopefully be “over the top,” according to McIntyre.
There are other plans that SGA is specifically withholding from the public until final arrangements can be made, but things are starting to come together, according to Gay.
“Right now is like the calm before the storm,” Gay said. “Don’t let the theme fool you into thinking this banquet will be boring.”