Student view: Reviving old traditions

March 19, 2024 - Isabelle Borr

Isabelle Borr is a senior majoring in international relations and Arabic with a minor in security management. She has interned with the Bureau of South/Central Asian Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Oman. Borr is the vice president of JMC Student Senate.

As a James Madison College freshman in 2020, I listened as upperclassmen reminisced about the esteemed JMC Charity Ball. They would tell me and my classmates about how fun it was to dress up and donate to a charitable cause each year. It was the biggest event of the year and honored a JMC professor as well.

Basically, it was JMC’s version of prom. This all sounded amazing and, like many others, I longed for an in-person event to finally meet classmates and professors — my first year was online due to the pandemic.

During my sophomore year, I joined JMC Student Senate and again we discussed the old memories of what the night was, and another year, we could not plan a function of that caliber due to the COVID-restrictions in place.

Finally, after a three-year hiatus, we got to bring JMC Charity Ball back as the JMC Gala! It was no easy feat, especially after tragedy struck campus in February 2023. We considered canceling but pushed through anyway and put together a sold-out celebration. We hosted alumni, professors and students at the University Club and chose MSU’s counseling service, CAPS, as the charity recipient. I am still really proud of how our community came together during such a difficult time.

This year, as Senate’s vice president, I knew I wanted this year’s Gala to be the best yet. One of the major goals of my appointment was to make tickets more affordable for students, which we did. Student tickets are available at $25 each; and faculty, staff, and alumni can purchase theirs for $50 each.  We also have a new location — The Marriott Hotel in downtown East Lansing. As a part of our charitable efforts, all of the money raised from the silent auction and ticket sale profit will be donated to Kids’ Food Basket , a Michigan non-profit dedicated to alleviating child hunger.

Mark your calendars for April 13th. From 6-8 p.m., get ready for a silent auction, dinner, dancing and drinks! Reserve your spot today as we celebrate our past, embrace our present and plan for our futures.  

Tickets are available through Eventbrite until April 10th.