Students wear masks for charity

Students wore suits, masks and dresses of all colors to the University Honors Student Association Masquerade Ball Tuesday.

George Fritch, a freshman biology major, wore a Santa Claus outfit.

"I go to hospitals, nursing homes and day-cares and wear it for them," Fritch said.

To add to the festivity, two students accompanied Fritch in his holiday attire, wearing reindeer antlers.

"I love it," said Kendra Lindsey, a freshman business major. "It was actually my idea. My friend and I decided to be his reindeer."

Honors students came together to have fun and raise money for charity.

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"We wanted to have a fun event for students to relax and kind of hang out," said Krystal Griffith, a junior human development and family studies major and president of the UHSA.

Students paid for tickets to enter the ball; two-thirds of the funds will go to the Council Of Domestic Abuse, a group that assists battered women and children.

One third will go back into the Honors fund, Griffith said. The event took about a month and a half to plan.

"We had to postpone it because we didn't have things ready yet, so we pushed it back another month to have the time to prepare," Griffith said.

In addition to enjoying music and refreshments, students could create their own masks to wear.

"I like bright festive masks," said Christy Martin, a freshman communication major. "I'm starting a collection. I think it's fun." Students played games including Pin the Mask on Marilyn Monroe, Bead Toss and Apples to Apples.

Bead Toss was like Ring Toss, except that it eventually escalated to Bowling with Beads, in which people slid beads across the floor to knock over cups.

Students said they were enjoying some relaxation time before the holiday.

"It's fun," said Trea Bailey, a freshman English education major. "You get to hang out with people. I'm a commuter, so it's hard to meet friends on campus, but this is neat."

Whether this event is hosted by the UHSA next year will depend on the next president of the UHSA.

"I'll be there to help if they do decide to do it," Griffith said.

( Cinnamon Kilburn is a freshman political science major. She can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu.)