In a significant decision, STUGO and the LCDS administration have cancelled the annual Snowball winter dance, with plans to replace it with a new community-building event. The announcement sparked a range of reactions among students.
Snowball, usually held in late-winter, was one of three Upper School dances, along with Homecoming in September and Prom in May. In recent years, Snowball has struggled with low attendance and support from the student body, despite extensive planning by Rarrr Club to try to boost engagement.
“There were a few long conversations [with the administration],” said Gabbie R., who is the Upper School Co-President alongside Kane K.. “We had recognized that there wasn’t as big of a turnout as there was for Homecoming and Prom. The common consensus was that Snowball isn’t as popular as it could be. There are probably better things that we could be doing to get the community together.”
According to Gabbie, Snowball drew only 50-75 students each year, a disappointing turnout when taking into account the time and money spent to organize the event.
“[Rarrr club] put[s] in so much time, effort, and money,” she said. “When not as many people show up, it just seems kind of disappointing…those funds could be used for something better.”
When asked why student attendance has been so low in recent years, Gabbie and Kane speculated that the high frequency of formal dances might be a factor.
“Getting rid of the Snowball may add more anticipation for the other two dances,” Gabby said.
STUGO Supervisor Mrs. Heim emphasized that the decision was not meant to minimize Rarrr Club’s efforts, but to support planning for the school’s biggest dance, Prom.
Mrs. Heim added that funding Prom has been increasingly challenging.
“There was a lot of talk last year with some administrators about dances and how we fundraise and the difficulty of trying to raise money for Prom,” she said. “Prom is a really overwhelming task to plan and to fundraise for… and I think that we were trying to find creative ways to help support that ‘big event’.”
The main goal was to redirect funds from Snowball to support Prom and other activities. Ultimately, Mrs. Heim said, the decision helps make Prom more affordable for students.
“We’re trying to keep the students’ best interests in mind,” Mrs. Heim added.
Kane said that STUGO’s primary goal is to create an event that brings the community together.
“We want to create some sort of event that’s going to bring the community together,” he said. Leaders felt Snowball was not achieving that goal.
STUGO has sent a survey asking students to suggest replacement events, including a volleyball tournament or an ice-skating party. The final decision will be announced at a later date.
A student feedback form revealed conflicted views about support for the decision. Largely, Upper School students responded with indifference or support, though some expressed disappointment.
Students ranked their approval on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 indicating the lowest approval and 5 the highest. Seniors recorded the highest disapproval rating (2 or below) at 30.4-percent, while 64.3-percent of Freshmen selected a neutral rating of 3. Sophomores showed the strongest support, with 57.1-percent choosing 4 or higher. Juniors demonstrated the widest range of responses and had the highest percentage of maximum approval (5) at 35-percent.
Many supporters of changing the event said Snowball had lower attendance and was less engaging than other dances, making it an inefficient use of funds. Others said they were excited about potential alternatives. Still, some students, particularly Freshmen and Seniors, expressed disappointment, noting they had looked forward to either their first or final Snowball.
Several respondents argued that STUGO and Rarrr Club could have revamped the event instead of canceling it altogether, while others said they enjoyed past dances and were sad to see the tradition end.
For Kane and Gabbie, the change represents an opportunity – even if the initial announcement felt abrupt. Speaking at a morning meeting, Gabbie acknowledged that her tone may have seemed overly direct.
“I thought it would be better to be more direct and blunt about the situation,” Gabbie said. “But I realize now that I probably should have been more excited about the decision that we’re making, because I am excited about it and I think it’s going to be fun.”
Mrs. Heim shared a message to the students, asking for their support and open-mindedness.
“Whatever ultimately does end up happening, I hope that students will support and have an open mind about it,” Mrs. Heim said. “Winter can be a time when things are slow and not a lot is happening… Whatever is planned will hopefully be done thoughtfully and with some attention to detail to make sure it is fun for students.”
Kane shared a similar message of encouragement: “This isn’t something to be opposed to or afraid of. This is going to be something fun that’s going to bring the community together.”
