Mardi Gras was brought to The Zone in Bryant-Denny Stadium Tuesday evening, as Housing and Residential Communities put on a celebration for students.
The ball went from about 8 p.m. to about midnight and a seven-piece jazz band played and kept the students entertained while they danced and ate. This is the second year that Housing and Residential Communities has put on the Mardi Gras Ball and has supported an organization. In 2008, the donations were made to a Katrina relief foundation. This year the proceeds were given to the Tuscaloosa’s One Place. With 18 resident advisers all over campus, they came together and were able to put on the event. “This is absolutely awesome that the RAs could do all of this such as make the ads, sell the tickets and put this together,” said Stacey Ogle, assistant community director for Housing and Residential Communities. Ogle said tickets were sold in advance for a fee but since they wanted as many students to come as possibly, they changed the process to asking for a simple donation at the door.
The RAs made flyers, made a Facebook group and set up ticket booths outside the Ferguson Center and Burke Hall.