November 30, 2007

Kappa Alpha Psi hosts annual Masquerade Ball

by Eric Welch

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Students and faculty at Southern Illinois University Carbondale can enjoy an evening of elegance this weekend. Unlike a normal dance, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. will host a rare and more upscale event – its fourth annual Masquerade Ball.

The ball will be on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Newman Catholic Center in Carbondale. It is free of charge, and all SIUC students and faculty are welcome. Semiformal attire is required, and the environment will present a unique opportunity to have fun in style.

"The goal is to show college students that there is nothing wrong with dressing nice and having a great time," said Aaron Mallory, vice president of Kappa Alpha Psi.

"The theme of the Masquerade Ball this year is Winter Paradise. When you first walk in there will be a touch of winter that hits you," he said. "We will also be providing free food to the guests. It will be a time to sit, relax and dine with friends, and if you love to dance to slow music it will be perfect."

A special feature of the evening will be a live performance by the musical duo J. Torae. Four-time Apollo winner J. Ivy is a spoken word artist who has appeared on HBO, a Kanye West video and NBA, NFL and Orange Bowl commercials. His wife, Terry Torae, is a vocalist whose talent will enrich the evening with soulful R&B sounds.

The event sponsor, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., is historically an African-American organization that has been at SIUC for nearly 60 years. Its members are dedicated to honorable achievement and public service.