1986

The 1985 Fancy Dress occurred on March 7, was held in the Warner Center/Doremus Gym, and had the theme of “A Night in Rio.” Tickets this year cost $35 per couple. The Basie Orchestra returned from last year to perform for the students, alongside Junior Walker and the All Stars, and the Skip Castro Band. Other speciality acts included a firework display, fire eaters, mimes, and a llama (Calyx 1986 31). The decor chosen resembled the famous Carnaval celebration.In a Ring-tum Phi article explaining the history and cultural significance of Carnaval, John Kalitka, staff reporter for the Phi, writes, “...themes have endured: abundant display of costume, masquerading, dancing, and song (available at the Warner Center next Friday night). Rich food, drink and celebration (partially available at the Warner Center next week). Celebrations and rituals commemorating the fertility of man and nature (you provide)” (Kalitka 5).

Women joined the SAB in 1986. This year, eight women joined the board of about 60 members and the executive and directorial positions remained filled by men. The budget was about $64,000 and according to the SAB, they expected a profit of about $1,000 from ticket sales, memorabilia, FD playbill ads, etc.; however, after the event weekend, they reportedly lost $5,460 (Bunch 1). Perhaps one reason the finances of Fancy Dress did not go the way that the SAB had hoped was because of poor planning on their part. Daniel Bunch, a staff reporter for the Phi, got information from the SAB about their finances. He writes, “[the] SAB bounced a $40 check during preparations for Fancy Dress. [Guerriero, the 1986 FD chairman,] said that the SAB gave out 20 or 30 blank checks to people who had to purchase supplies and the bad check was a result of some of those people not properly recording their expenses” (Bunch 1).

There were various changes made during the 1986 Fancy Dress cycle on which students had opinions. Firstly, the Fancy Dress shirts changed from long-sleeved to short-sleeved – Paul Davey, a social critic for the Phi particularly appreciated this change. Secondly, there was some tension this year between the SAB and the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Board. The SAB regulation that students at Fancy Dress parties wear colored wristbands for drinks, indicating who can and cannot be served, was said to be a “charade” by the SAB chairman, put on to appease the ABC board (Bunch 1).