Madison Brown, News Writer EMORY, Va. — Emory Activities Board held a Spring Formal on March 8, 2020, which was the first formal held since the early 2000s. The formal’s theme was the “Roaring 20’s” and was held at the Martha Washington Inn in Abingdon. President of EAB Parker Kitts said, “We were petitioned to have a formal again. It was something that previous EAB administration weren’t very fond of, just because of the lack of attendance. Once we were petitioned, we pulled out the idea for a formal.” Having the formal at the Martha Washington Inn was tradition for previous formals, so EAB decided that it was something they wanted to do again. When talking about the process of booking the Martha for the formal, Kitts describes the process as “slightly sticky.” Kitts said, “The reason it was sticky was because we didn’t leave [the last formal in the 2000s] with the greatest relationship with the Martha, but we were able to reconnect with them and show that this is an entirely different Emory & Henry.” The most distinct feature about the formal is the secret speakeasy, which is a staple from the 1920’s that EAB wanted to incorporate into the theme. “Since it’s a secret, an EAB member will have to escort you down there. It’s separate from the ballroom,” said Kitts. “You will have to be taken by elevator or an outside path. There’s going to be poker games as well as some other games going on, there’s going to be a mocktail bar to be as realistic as possible.” First year student Jaynae Wright attended the formal. “I love the 1920s, so a lot attracted me to [the formal],” said Wright. “When I found out that Emory [& Henry] didn’t throw formals, I was a little disappointed. Then, I saw that EAB was reviving the tradition of having one, which had been gone for so long. That got me excited for it.” Wright believes that formals and events like these are important for students at Emory & Henry. “Emory is such a small school that it gives an opportunity for something purely social,” said Wright. “These events show that it’s not just about the classroom … it’s about making social connections and getting one night to hang out with your friends and peers.”
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