A group of exchange students swapped their jorts and scuffs for black tie attire on Saturday, October 4th to bring American-style proms to Ōtepoti. Complete with elaborate promposals, the classic awkward photos, and highly sought after awards, organisers Buck and Murray described the “magical night of organised fun” as some of their “best work.”
Promposals had to be done by the girls – both publicly and on camera – with pairings determined randomly. The girls delivered. What started as a joke turned into full-blown theatre in the week leading up to the event. One promposal was broadcast live on Radio One, another involved hijacking the Unipol Gym mic system, and a third involved a live sheep.
The promposals drew the attention of Otago Uni’s official Instagram, who posted a photo of the couple and a lamb before the Clocktower holding a sign that read, “Charlie, WOOL you go to the prom with me?” No one can say these girls don’t commit.
The night went off without a hitch. The most anticipated event of the night was the awards ceremony with categories such as ‘Most Likely to Have the Ugliest Dog’, ‘Soldier Wounded in Action' (don’t try snowboarding on your semester abroad), and the coveted ‘Best Promposal’ crown (the sheep took the win). One pleased winner described the moment as “euphoric”.
The strict set of rules mandated universal drinking laws – no use of first names – and ordered the use of Flamingo scooters as transport to Subs, where they danced the night away out of the pouring rain. Only five cadets fell down the treacherous Subs’ stairs, one taking an innocent bystander down with him.
Post-town, the group split among North Dunedin flats for kick-ons, facing more difficulty with not falling over, passionate debates over who really deserved the ‘Most Likely to Have the Ugliest Dog’ award, and for one prom-goer, a stream of vomit straight to the leg after missing the clogged sink. The true American prom experience.