The revelers are entering, brother: make good room. (All put on their masks.)

_William Shakespeare

The masquerade ball is traditionally thought of as being a grand romantic affair characterized by throngs of lavishly adorned merrymakers.

NIU students have the opportunity to indulge in the romance of the masquerade and springtime this Friday at the Hopkins Park Community Center, thanks to the efforts of the NIU Beaux Arts Ball Committee.

Maureen Dempsey, spokesperson for the committee and an NIU art student, said the Beaux Arts Ball is a masquerade which originated in Paris, France over 100 years ago.

Since then fine arts schools worldwide have celebrated the arts and the advent of spring with a “glorious costume ball,” Dempsey said.

She said “This is an excellent opportunity for everyone to get their creative juices flowing in time for the final academic onslaught of the year.”

The ball is open to everyone who wishes to attend, the only stipulation being that they wear costumes,” As wild or as mild as they want,” Dempsey said.

She said the objective is to establish the ball as a springtime tradition, while generating some money for various types of NIU artists.

“We would eventually like to get SA funding for the ball,” she said emphasizing that the committee has asked the NIU Theatre, Music and Art departments to participate in the gala.

Tickets for the ball are $5 in advance and $6 at the door. The tickets cover food, admission and music. A cash bar will be available to those 21 and over. The Ball will be held from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.

Advance tickets can be purchased on the second floor of the Visual Arts building between 11:00 and 2:00, today and tommorow.

Dempsey said she hopes the Ball will serve to unite a broad cross section of students from different departments and also alleviate inter-departmental squabbling that often occurs during the stressful period prior to finals.

“The weather is supposed to be great so everyone should get out and enjoy the spring night,” she said.

“This is an opportunity for people to blow off some steam and unite with other students in a positive atmosphere,” she said.

The Beaux Arts Ball committee is a branch of the Student Advisory Committee which is composed of representatives from various art organizations.

Dempsey is the Vice-President for Ars Nova and she is their reprensatative to the committee.