Valentine’s semi-formal will be held in Treetops

By Lauren McGlone
Senior Staff Writer
February 14, 2007

Each February, millions of Americans can expect to be bombarded with chocolates, roses and hundreds of heartfelt Hallmark cards. This year, the holiday is being celebrated a little differently at La Salle.

On Feb. 16 from 10 p.m.-1 a.m., Late Night La Salle and Treetops Café will host a Valentine’s Day semi-formal affair, featuring dinner, dancing and a photo booth. The event is free for all La Salle students, and costs $10 for any non-Explorer.

Alcohol will be served to anyone over the age of 21 with a valid driver’s license or La Salle ID. This will be one of the first major campus events to have alcohol on the beverage list, according to former Late Night La Salle Programming Coordinator Melinda Massaro.

When the idea for the semi-formal was first proposed, Massaro got permission from Dean of Students Dr. Joseph Cicala to serve alcohol at the event.

According to Massaro, who is now the International Education Coordinator, students had been inquiring about the possibility of holding a Late Night event that served alcohol.

“If the Valentine’s Day dance is done right, and students are mature, then we may hold more events like this in the future,” Massaro said.

According to Christopher Kazmierczak, programming coordinator of University Life, the Valentine’s Day festivities will, “utilize the same protocol as a Happening Hour, which follows the University alcohol policy.”

To keep the party under control, alcohol consumption will be heavily monitored. The students who are permitted to drink will only be allowed three beverages, and will only be served once every hour.

Staff at the event will keep track of how many drinks a student has consumed by keeping an eye on the bracelets drinking students will be required to wear. After a student orders a drink, a tab will be pulled off the bracelet. Security will be present at the event, and backpacks will not be permitted inside the building.

All of the guests will be welcome to the dinner spread at Treetops, which will include pasta, a carving station and various desserts.

mcglonel1@lasalle.edu