Originally published on Feb. 7

This year's Graduate Student Formal promises to be a one-of-a-kind event - at least in how much it costs.

Planning for the event has been marked by ad-hoc funding and several unexpected increases in costs that have rendered it one of the most expensive student-organized dance events at Stanford.

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) is planning the event for the second consecutive year. Last year, the formal cost the GSC only $16,000. The same amount was allocated for this year's formal.

But costs quickly started piling up well past that number.

In late November, the event's planners asked the GSC for an additional $10,000, saying they needed the money for a live band. The vote to allocate this extra funding passed unanimously. One week later, formal planners asked for another $10,000, this time to make sure they had enough funds to sign contracts for the venue and the entertainment.

"We have to know we have the money," GSC member and event planner Donna Winston, a graduate student in the School of Education, said at the time, adding that the money would be returned to the GSC if it could be offset by funds from the Graduate Student Programming Board (GSPB).

The GSPB contributed the funds<\p>--<\p>at the expense of a spring mixer - but formal organizers are still holding onto the money from the GSC.

Ultimately, even the additional $20,000, plus the original $16,000 allocated in the GSC's budget, was not enough, forcing organizers to raise ticket prices despite November claims that they would not do so.

According to those organizing the formal, the event's cost could rise to $54,000 if all the 600 available tickets sell out - as they did last year and are expected to this year.

If all 600 tickets are sold, the formal will cost $90 per person, far exceeding some of the most expensive student dances on campus.

The Viennese Ball and the Senior Formal not only accrue smaller event costs, but they also attract over twice as many people, leading to per person costs that are half that of the graduate formal. The Sophomore Formal cost only $10,000, despite drawing over 800 students.

About two-thirds of the total cost of the graduate formal - approximately $35,000 - will pay for food and drinks at the party, including a three-hour open bar. Another $10,000 is going to pay for the entertainment, including a live band that will perform two shows.

Event organizers say this year's formal is costing more because of more expensive food, an additional hour for the open bar and the live band.

They added that the open bar and live entertainment make the party cost more than similar events such as the Viennese Ball and the undergraduate formals, which lack such amenities.

The graduate formal also stands out in another way. Where undergraduate formals can usually accommodate most members of their respective classes, the graduate formal has only 600 tickets available for a student body of over 8,000.

Most of the money for the formal comes from the student fees paid by graduate students. Some in the GSC are concerned that the event is paid for by the entire graduate student population, even though relatively few can attend.