On Saturday, hundreds of students gathered at Pier 60 for the Violet Ball, an annual tradition during Violet 100, NYU’s spirit week. The Student Government Assembly allocated $200,000 of its $500,000 NYU Initiative Fund for the event, which sold out in around 20 minutes.
CAS sophomore and V100 service event lead Chloe Stone said that the venue — which first hosted the ball last year — was chosen because of its proximity and accessibility via the 14th Street Busway.
While most attendees spent the first hour of the ball waiting to check in, Stone said that this year’s check-in process was more efficient because of the SGA committee’s logistical improvements of the entrance.
After check in, students took group photos and mirror selfies in the hallways that led to the main entrance of the ball.
The ball featured three food stations, each offering a variety choices, including choices for those with dietary restrictions. Some popular dishes at the dinner buffet were the chipotle-glazed short ribs with corn and the pastrami grilled salmon. The dessert bar had many bite-sized treats, allowing students to try multiple dessert options while staying clean and elegant. Each bar had at least three bartenders who concocted different drinks to cater to individual tastes.
“I think we have a lot of undergraduate and graduate students who just never really had the opportunity to come to such a big event with friends and with the NYU community,” said Angela Chou, Steinhardt senior and SGA chair. “My biggest hope is that students walk away having an unforgettable night, something they’ll carry with them in the back of their minds, walking out of NYU.”
“My roommate and I went to the moonlight-themed dance two years ago, and we had a really great time,” Steinhardt junior Laura Underwood said. “Why not just spend fifteen dollars to come to another one? It’s an excuse to dress up.”
For those graduating this spring, the ball was an opportunity to create lasting memories.
“This is my final semester at NYU and I wanted to have the best moments with my girlfriend Anjali,” Tandon senior Abhay Garg said. “We both were eagerly waiting for this event for a long time.”
Throughout most of the night, students filled the dance floor, rocking to songs played by the DJ. The playlist included a mix of tracks, from Kendrick Lamar’s rap song “tv off” to feel-good hits like “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction. To end the night on a high note, the DJ played “Mundian to Bach Ke” by Panjabi MC, eliciting jumps from the students that made the dance floor vibrate.
