Marian gets energized at Welcome Dance

Mary Huerter

Marian's Welcome Dance has come to be known as that sort of quintessential high school experience. It's that perfect pre-fall night, it's the band in the backyard, it's all your friends, it's having a crush on the drummer, and it only costs four bucks.

T-shirts, live music, and mother nature, contribute to the more than a few traditions associated with Welcome Dance, but it would be hard for a Marian student not to have noticed the arrival of a new tradition at the Sept. 4 dance this year.

Welcome Dance marked the inaugural use of Marian's two new breathalyzers and the random testing policy.

Students from Marian as well as other schools were asked to take the test based on their position in line, and were tested before being allowed to pay for the dance.

The whole thing went off almost without a hitch. "There was one boy who was a little snippy about it, but he eventually took the test and passed. No one failed," Sisson said.

The dance was attended by nearly 800 teens and was and seemingly well enjoyed by everyone. Junior Jen Seidel was one of those in attendance and captured the general student response when she said, "This was the best Welcome Dance in my time at Marian."

The night seems so fun and natural it is easy to get the impression that the whole thing just came together through some great cosmic coincidence. This, in fact, is not the case.

In reality, the planning for Welcome Dance started as early as the end of May when the Student Board chose dance chairs junior Marie Young and senior Jessica Nagengast.

Once the chairs were chosen, the girls found them-selves with a lot of work to do.

Because Welcome Dance is held outdoors, it requires a little more preparation than dances held in the gym. A stage, sound and lighting equipment, extra chaperones, and security all need to be acquired, not to mention scheduling bands.

Welcome Dance's theme this year was "Energized." The Student Board made this theme a reality by selecting bands that play high-energy sets and selling black and pink t-shirts featuring the Energizer Bunny.

Welcome Dance featured four bands: 3Q.E. (as 3/4 Evil now call themselves), Line Out, Never a Dull Moment, and Caesar the Greaser.

While in some previous years the Student Board has had to pay for the bands, all of this year's bands volunteered their services for the night.

The bands don't mind doing this because although Student Board doesn't pay them, they are still able to sell their merchandise and get their name out.

Even with the benefit of not having to pay the bands, Welcome Dance is an expensive night for Student Board. With sound rental at $900, a stage for $450, and security costing up to $400, the evening ends up costing a staggering $2000.

"It's a lot of work, but it's so successful that it's worth it," Young said of the dance.

Student Board moderator Ms. Sisson said, "It's a good tradition that everyone seems to enjoy and it's very successful for Student Board."

After expenses, Student Board made a profit of over $1700. They will use this money to pay for this year's Student Board-sponsored activities including Christmas Dance and Surprise Day.