Dressed in formal gowns and suits, students attended the Homecoming masquerade ball on Thursday evening at the Oberholtzer Hall. | Emily S. Chambers/The Daily Cougar
Students dressed in glitter, gowns and suits veiled their faces for a masquerade ball Thursday night in Oberholtzer Hall. The Fourth Annual Homecoming Dance, hosted by Cougars on Campus, attracted a large group of students.
The first 100 students received free masks, so the crowd wore shiny faces of purple, green and gold alongside elaborate masks sporting feathers, gems and twigs. There were also familiar faces, such as Guy Fawkes masks.
Students posed on a red carpet that led to a buffet, and some students just skipped the buffet to boogie to Just Dance 2014 or stack chips at the casino tables.
Breakdancers and a guest DJ joined the party, and prizes were given for best dancers, best dressed and others. | Emily S. Chambers/The Daily Cougar
Jonathan Gaudlitz, a pre-business freshmen, won $900 from the blackjack table just a few hours after the dance started. He said he did not know the dance would have casino games and was glad he went to the dance.
“I didn’t have a whole lot better to do, and it sounded like fun,” Gaudlitz said. “I’ve already met a couple of new friends, like the guy in the orange suit.”
The guy is mechanical engineering freshman Chance da Silva, who dusted off his prom suit for the night. The suit won him male best dressed.
Female best dressed winner and creative writing junior Karina Sokulski came to the dance with her friend, who had never been to a school dance.
“(The dance) is cool. It’s nice, very reminiscent of high school. It’s nostalgic,” Sokulski said. “I didn’t know it was something that still went on.”
Gifts cards were given to the best dressed, most spirited, best couple and best dancer, and a raffle crowned Homecoming Dance King and Queen.
“Though some students did not expect a dance on campus grounds, Cougars on Campus is an organization that caters to UH’s campus community,” said organizational leadership senior Naeem Abdullah, founder and president of Cougars on Campus.
“I was so bored that I had to design something to create more school spirit on campus,” Abdullah said.
Entertainment was provided by alumnus DJ Cool Chris, a duo of go-go dancers and break dancers from Boogaloo Zoo.
“When I came in 2009, you would come on campus and there were people wearing UT and A&M shirts. You still see a little bit of that, but not nearly as much as you’ll see then. There was absolutely no school spirit in 2009. I figured we’ll create a resource where students can get together,” Abdullah said.
