“Will You Go With Me?”
by Rachel Ross
OKWUeagle.com Staff Writer
Sidewalk chalk has been used to ask students to Winter Banquet this year. Freshman Kate Anderson said that she does not know all of the people who have been asked to Banquet, “All I’ve seen is the sidewalk chalk!”
It begins.
The anticipation. The excitement. The planning…The asking.
As banquet approaches – just days until the December 5 event – the amount of discussion surrounding this topic increases.
Winter Banquet this year will be held at Grace Community Church and themed “Christmas in Europe.”
Tirzah Lily, Director of Social Life, says she and the Social Life Committee are “excited to be hosting this years banquet and hope to see you all there!”
The Social Life Committee members are not the only ones excited about this year’s Banquet.
“I think I will talk about it more when it gets closer and people start getting dresses,” said freshman Kate Anderson.
“I talk about it way too much!” junior Jamie Rovenstine said.
Calvin Neill, junior, says that the men on campus are a little different. They generally do not talk about Winter Banquet, if at all, until after they ask a woman to go with them.
Thus, typical conversations around the residence halls may sound something like this:
Women: Who will ask me? What will I wear? How did he ask you? I hope some one asks me!
Men: Cricket, cricket
Kaylee Vandyke, junior, explains the difference in communication styles between genders:
“Girls talk about it right after banquet for the next one [meaning a semester in advance]; and boys talk about it a few days before when they’ve asked a girl.”
This semester the doors open at 6:00 pm with a half hour socializing time followed by dinner at 6:30 pm. OKWU alumnae Kendra Culver and Lindsie Koons will be the musical entertainment, playing viola and violin respectively.
Though the men may not be talking about Banquet as much as the women, they have been acquiring dates in a timely manner, according to Vandyke. She said that most of the asking is taking place “about a month early, which gives the girl enough time [to prepare for the evening].”
Not only do people have to ask for a date, the pressure is on as to the method of asking as well.
Freshman Ryan Helland, who asked junior Charissa Cogan, admits to not having asked creatively and has gotten some grief for it from fellow classmates. In his own defense, he said the idea of asking creatively was different for him just coming from high school where that is not a tradition.
Anderson – also fresh from high school – had not heard anything about the tradition to ask someone to banquet creatively.
“I like this tradition,” Anderson said with a smile on her face.
Brandon Moten, freshman, lamented over the creativity on display thus far.
“There have been a few good ones but there has also been some repeats,” Moten said. “I’m still looking for something really original.”
“I feel there are a select few who are trying pretty hard and doing a pretty good job,” said Brian John, junior.
Freshman Jarrett Blain, for example, asked fellow freshman Breanna Rovenstine by writing, “Breanna will you go to banquet with me” on the sidewalk outside of Wesley in sidewalk chalk.
Sophomore Caleb Harms also asked in a creative manner. He filled freshman Rebekah Redetzke’s room with 150 multi-colored balloons, which he prepared himself. The balloons were filled pieces of paper, candy, and even water – but one balloon contained a piece of paper asking her to go with him to banquet.
Whether the asking is creative or not there is not a lot of time left to ask.
Tickets will be on sale only during the dinner hour and only until Friday, November 20, according to Lily. Tickets are $13 covering food, entertainment, and ice-skating. Students sign up for a table when the tickets are purchased.
As in previous years, the price of the Banquet ticket includes ice-skating at the Tulsa Oilers Arena from 11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Lily also reminds everyone that Rhema, a church in Broken Arrow on 71st Street just west of Elm Street, will have their Christmas lights up and everyone is welcome to tour the lights before going ice-skating.
