Cinderella probably had an easier time getting to her ball than the students attending AU Founder’s Day 2015 had getting to theirs. The snow-filled roads made for a transportation nightmare.
But once they had safely entered the museum's doors, students found themselves in a much warmer world. Held at the National Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, this year's Founder's Day was nothing short of celestial.
Upon entering the building, all one saw was a myriad of ball gowns, suits and outer space apparatus. Students took pictures by the planes and various space exploration vehicles, i.e. shuttles to send to their Fairy Godmothers dutifully awaiting pictures. The Boeing bearing an “American” sign became a hotspot for taking couple (and singles) pictures.
The museum had something to offer everyone throughout the night. For those wanting an opportunity for an intimate walk through all of the exhibits, less crowded than on a usual weekday or weekend, this night was the perfect chance. It was an apt time to walk slowly and read all of the displays carefully.
For those wanting to bust some moves in their evening wear, student DJs Kyle Jensen, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Lucca Vaselli, a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs, were more than happy to oblige with a mixture of current and throwback music. At one point, classics by Missy Elliott, Ludacris and Nelly blasted through the speakers and resonated through the entire museum, reminding many of their middle school days. Even though attendees were at a national institution, people danced like it was the last time they would see a dance floor, in true AU fashion. The energy was infectious.
One downside was that the food ran out in less than 30 minutes after the event started. For future years, Student Government should allocate their resources more wisely so that food is available for everyone to try. No one was looking to eat a three course meal, but people did want something more than crumbs.
Furthermore, the line to the Planetarium show was longer than the Milky Way the entire night. Some ducked out of the line after only five minutes while others dutifully waited for the special treat. But neither of these unfortunate circumstances seemed to dampen anyone’s spirits. That is because no one forgot why they were there: to celebrate the deep history of their beloved school. A perfect mixture of history and interstellar magic was definitely at play Saturday night.
At the end of the night, students boarded their Pumpkin Coaches — or rather, shuttles — and made their way back home. It was a night to remember, even if it did end an hour earlier than Cinderella’s midnight curfew.
Current undergraduates and prospective students have a wonderful annual tradition to look forward to. All previous attendees have made amazing memories at Founder’s Day celebrations. It will be exciting to find out where future Founder’s Day celebrations will be hosted.
