JLab140

This year, there will also be a competing dance at Club 112 in addition to the school dance, though not sponsored by the school.

The CHS student council attempted to work with Ryan Powell (owner of Formal Affairs and Club 112) to compromise, but according to Alyssa Vahala (12), in a conversation between Vahala, Colleen Finn (12) and Powell, Powell asserted that he would only hold his dance at the same night that CHS held their dance to “prove a point to the school.”

Powell, however, denies this claim, reasoning that because students will only buy tuxedos and dresses to attend one dance, whichever dance is held later will have a lower attendance.

Partnership

CHS and Powell once held separate dances simultaneously; In 2004, Powell talked with the administration about offering a dance at Club 112. According to Powell, he conducted talks with the student council, suggesting a ballot with possible facilities to use. The student council held the vote, but Club 112 did not come out on top. However, Powell suggested that the vote was not legitimate.

“Students brought in the ballot, and my name wasn’t even on it,” Powell said. “A revote was done, and Club 112 won in a landslide.”

Powell’s story, though, is not true according to Bryan Waltz (associate principal).

“[The administration] decided that we would have it there,” Waltz said. “There has never been a ballot to my knowledge.”

Originally, the CHS administration decided not to hold the dance at Club 112 but changed their minds after talking with some students.

Powell then agreed to provide Club 112 and other necessities for that year’s dance, only asking that all the money received from ticket sales went directly to the student council. Overall, 668 tickets were sold at $7 each that year, a total of $4676. Although some believe that Powell was attempting to receive a tax deduction, he denies the claims, only wishing to “return a favor to the community.”

Even with the donations, he would still be ineligible for a tax deduction.

“He presented the use of his facility, he provided the DJ’s, but he did not donate any money,” Waltz said.

According to Powell, he asked for recognition for his deed. He wanted a thank you and a recommendation to other schools.

Powell said that the school did not provide him with a letter, and yet he decided to repeat the dance the next year. The same terms were established, and 685 tickets were sold at $10. The money was once again given directly to student council, which wrote two checks for $1000 each on December 22, 2005, one to Faith Mission and one to Riley Hospital for Children.

“The rest of the money was used to pay for everything the student council does,” Heather Bohn (associate principal’s secretary) said.

Powell once again had to ask for a thank you letter, and according to Waltz, one was sent in the spring of 2006. The letter stated that the school “appreciated [his] generosity,” and explained the $2000 donations and that the rest was to be used for student council. The end of the letter also specified that Club 112 would not be used any longer, with no explanation provided. Powell denied receiving the letter.

“He did a nice thing for us for two years, we just don’t want to do business with him,” Dan Cunningham (principal) said. “If I buy a car from Dodge, I don’t have to apologize to Ford, it’s just how business works.”

Waltz provided various reasons for not working with Powell in 2006, the greatest coming from concerns for the safety of the students.

First of all, according to Waltz, holding the dance at Club 112 is very difficult to supervise. Although the owner has provided security and chaperones, many are not considered by the school to be credible enough for proper supervision of the students.

In addition, school administrators doubt the safety of the students in the area.  For example, there are two sex offenders that live down the street from the club and 37 within a one-mile radius of the club.

Powell believes that his club is safe, however, with 22 security guards and parent chaperones attending the dance. Although outside the facility he has no control, he is confident that the security watching the premises will provide protection.
Powell was disappointed in the choice of the administration and offered to hold a different dance. He suggested donating the profit made by ticket sales to the school, in addition to the profit made by the school’s dance. The administration disapproved, and Powell held his dance for free.

This year, Powell is once again offering a competing dance at Club 112. Conflicted between the two offerings, Justin Hayden (11) is wary of going to Club 112.

“Although my girlfriend wants to go for the ‘club atmosphere,’” Hayden said, “last year’s dance was very provocative…a lot of dirty dancing.”

For other students, the decision between the school’s option and Club 112 more straightforward.

“I really didn’t give the school’s dance a thought,” Jon Rowe (12) said. “I’m going to the Club 112 dance because everyone else is going.”

In the end, Powell’s decision to hold his own CHS Christmas Dance means that students can choose to go to multiple Christmas dances

“We had no obligation to continue with Club 112,” Waltz said. “Mr. Powell has chosen to become a competitor to our Christmas dances.”

§Kareem Albaba
§Spencer Roach