The Class of 2023 will celebrate receiving their onyx on Oct. 22 at the Fletcher Opera House in Raleigh. The Meredith Herald interviewed Ring Ceremony Co-Chairs Casey Salter and Cameron Simpson to get an inside perspective on this event.
This year, the name of the tradition was changed from Ring Dinner to Ring Ceremony to accurately reflect what will be occurring since dinner will not be served at the event. When asked for more details about the event, the co-chairs said, “We plan for the event to start at around 6:30 p.m., [and] we will hear from our speakers and have the winner of the Ring Essay contest announced. Then, we will have our actual Ring Ceremony where we can put [our onyx] on and celebrate officially entering the sisterhood.” The event will end around 7:15 p.m., and students can pick up a gift as they are leaving.
Despite this celebration, some students may still be wary of attending an event during COVID-19. Salter and Simpson have spent a lot of time considering how to keep this event fun and safe for all in attendance. Students were allowed the opportunity to choose their own groups, organize a time slot for arrival and carpool to the event. The opera house seats 600 which is “more than half of the expected attendance” according to Salter and Simpson. “[The extra space] will allow all students to be spaced out through the theater in a safe manner,” the co-chairs said. “There will also be a mask mandate to ensure the safety of all students.”
Both co-chairs are grateful to all those who made the event possible this year, including students, the Office of Student Leadership and Service and vendors. They wish to remind everyone attending the event to follow the protocols in place so the event can be safe and enjoyable for all in attendance.
By Rachel Van Horne, Associate Editor