Twinkly lights, heavy music beats, camera flashes and dancing couples filled the dance floor at the first ever Second Chance Prom held in the Alumni Lounge on Saturday, Nov. 22.
UNH PRIDE held the event in order to allow students the opportunity to “go with their preferred date” says the mastermind behind the dance, Olivia Carl. She notes that some students did not go to their high school prom because they “may have been afraid of negative reactions; some schools don’t have prom, and some people just flat out hated their prom. I know prom seems like a weird idea in college, but there are no rules for a second chance.”
Carl said that she saw the concept of a Second Chance Prom online and the idea just stuck with her. The event meant a lot to both Carl and UNH PRIDE, who supported her fully.
The event was held this semester, opposed to being held in the traditional Prom season, because the “E-board knew how much it meant to me.” Carl adds that she will be abroad next semester and the board members wanted for her to be here to see her idea of the Second Chance Prom become a reality.
Appearances were made by members of the Communications Club, Alpha Phi Omega, Photography Club and Graphic Design Club. These groups co-sponsored the event with UNH PRIDE. Also, music was provided by WNHU.
Carl says that she was very happy with the overall turnout for the Second Chance Prom. As a first time event, they initially handed out over 100 hundred tickets! Also, other people came over the course of the night that did not pick up tickets before hand, so they handed some out at the door.
There are hopes to make the Second Chance Prom an annual event.
“I think with the turn out we had this year and it being a new event, I don’t see a reason that we can’t make it bigger each year,” Carl said. “So yes, there will be another Second Chance prom next year and there will be a different theme, not sure what it is yet, but it will be different.”
She also notes that the student body was very well received on the idea for the event.
“If there were any negatives comments, I never heard them,” she said. “All the members of PRIDE were behind the idea 100 percent. Everyone I talked to thought the idea was pretty great. I think any negativity, if you could call it that, would be from people thinking it’s kind of weird to have a prom in college, but once it was better explained the idea behind it people got on board.”
Carl says that the organization has worked out any kinks in the event with the first run through and they now have a better idea on how to run it in years to come.
She would also like to send her thanks to everyone that aided in the event’s planning and set-up and to everyone that attended. She hopes everyone enjoyed him or herself and had as much fun as she did.
