OCH Prepares for Middlemarch

The annual Middlemarch Ball, held traditionally in the O'Connell House (OCH), will have a Harry Potter theme for 2010.

"We choose our theme based on what works with the house – we decorate the whole thing – and based on what's easy for students to dress up and get into," said Michael Bell, associate undergraduate manager of the house and A&S '10.

"[Middlemarch is] kind of an underground tradition at BC because it's not as publicized as Homecoming, which can host over 1,000 people," Bell said. 

The capacity of the house is 300, including managers and committee members, Bell said. For this reason, OCH management limits the number of tickets sold.

Students who are interested in attending the event must first attend the theme announcement, which is held in Conte Forum. The nearly 500 students who participate in this initial step are then given a scavenger hunt to complete over the weekend in order to have a chance at being eligible for tickets. "The ticket process gets you connected with the campus, and you discover things you wouldn't find otherwise," Bell said.

If all the questions on the scavenger hunt are answered correctly, the student's name gets placed in a hat. "Every year around 140 names are drawn to buy pairs of tickets," Bell said. "We always sell out, and the house is as packed as we can get it."

Those with a ticket are asked to dress in the theme of the night. "Students get decked out," Bell said. "They dress up from head to toe, even more so than Halloween." Past themes have included Las Vegas, and, most recently, board games.

This year marks the 37th anniversary of Middlemarch. The dance began as a theme party hosted by the undergraduate managers of the O'Connell House. Regarding the preparation that goes into the event, Bell said, "I think we've gotten it down to a science. The biggest things are making sure the decorations are top notch, that there is enough food, and that we have a great DJ."

Middlemarch is entirely student run. Each year, a committee of 20-30 students is selected to pick the theme of the dance, design the decorations for each room, and ensure successful planning and execution of the event. "Every room is transformed," Bell said. "We shut the house down the whole week before the dance."

"The dance is always wildly successful," Bell said. "It's one the longest running BC traditions. There's this sense of community, students want to participate. They want to get dressed up."