April 28, 2008

L.B., 1L

Last weekend was YLS Prom (officially known as the Yale Law School Public Interest Formal—the event raises money for a YLS organization that provides grants for public interest law projects after graduation.).

I know what you are thinking. 

Yes, we have a Prom, and, yes, it’s a lot like the one that you probably had in high school, but there were fewer paper streamers and an open bar (this made the night pretty interesting).

The Prom officially started at 9 p.m., but most groups came at least an hour late.  Some students went out to dinner before the dance, either at one of New Haven’s fantastic up-scale restaurants or at the local falafel place (I wasn’t lying – this was just like high school).  A few 1L and 2L Small Groups met to take cheesy group “prom photos.” Friends hosted pre-parties so they could socialize before taking one of Yale’s free night shuttles to the Prom. 

We had voted online for YLS King and Queen during the week before the event.  After a 3L sent an email out to the YLS student body suggesting that we rally behind Dean Mike Thompson for Prom King, it was clear that the election for king would be a landslide. I’d like to say that we managed to surprise him with Prom King, but I’m pretty sure he had heard about the campaigning on his behalf. Dean Mike was crowned king with nearly 80% of the vote.

The prom ended at 1:30, but people tried to keep dancing even after all the lights had turned on.  It’s hard to bring an end to the best night of the semester.

YLS has plenty of social events, including weekly Thursday Bar Reviews, Friday Happy Hours, and various other parties sprinkled throughout the semester, but Prom is one of the best opportunities for students to dress up and have fun with the entire school.  It was quite a night.  I’d post pictures, but I guess you’ll just have to attend next year to see what it’s really like.