On March 15, the Meadow Brook Ball Committee hosted its annual Meadow Brook Ball. This year’s ball was themed “Written Under the Stars” — organizers promised the event would be a starry night to remember. The committee held true to its promise.
The ball was a unique, captivating experience that dozens of Oakland University community members were able to enjoy. The event offered a mix of social and independent activities – including photo booths, a dance, raffle baskets and wire art – that made an enjoyable experience possible for all attendees.
Besides interactive activities, attendees were able to learn more about the history of OU, through self-guided tours of the mansion. Meadow Brook Hall docents provided supplemental information about the Dodge family and their life in the mansion.
Adam Scarchilli, an OU graduate student, shared his favorite moments from the night.
“My favorite part of the ball is seeing everyone’s amazing outfits,” Scarchilli said. “I also have enjoyed making new friends throughout the night. Also, there are a lot of fun activities to do, like tarot card readings.”
Maggie Quinn, a member of the Meadow Brook Ball Committee, assisted in the event organizing process.
“This is my second year on the committee. There was a lot of planning that went into this year’s event. We had to start planning almost a year in advance,” Quinn said. “Throughout the course of the fall semester, we think of activities to do and begin ordering decorations. When the event gets closer, we decorate the mansion as a team.”
Quinn was able to enjoy the fruits of her labor throughout the night. She found the charcuterie refreshment station especially enjoyable, along with the music and dancing. But, Quinn finds spreading joy to other students to be her favorite part of the event.
“I love seeing my friends here, everyone having fun makes the preparation all worth it,” Quinn said.
Guadalupe Avalos, president of the Meadow Brook Ball Committee, finds her work as an event organizer very rewarding.
“I’ve been part of the committee for three years. This year, I wanted to go for a theme that everyone would love, which is why we decided on ‘Written in the Stars,'” Avalos said.
Avalos found collaboration with other students to be her favorite part of the planning process. The committee partnered with WXOU to provide the DJ services for the night. By allowing college-aged individuals to DJ, Avalos believes that the music was better received by attendees than in previous years.
“I just want to give a big shout-out to my committee members who did a great job putting this together,” Avalos said. “I encourage students to get involved in the committee because it is a great way to make new friends and be a part of a long-held Oakland University tradition.”
To learn more about the Meadow Brook Ball Committee, visit their Instagram page, @mbbc_ou, or GrizzOrgs page. Individuals who are interested in joining the Meadow Brook Ball Committee can email [email protected] for more information.
