Donaldson Hall revived for Bow Tie Ball at Northern

The Senate of the Associated Students of Montana State University-Northern will host a Bow Tie Ball Saturday night on the main floor of Donaldson Hall to celebrate this year's graduation and revive one of the campus' oldest buildings.

Collin Miller, president of the Senate, said the formal dress event will take place on Donaldson Hall's ground floor and feature, dancing with music provided by a disc jockey, hors d'ouevres and a cash bar serving beer and wine provided by Vic's Place.  

Donaldson Hall was the first building erected with all-new materials on Northern's campus. When it was completed in 1936, it became a residence hall for female students. Throughout the decades, Donaldson Hall had multiple uses before it was shuttered in 2008 because of a malfunctioning heating system.

"Students and faculty have always had an interest in getting back into Donaldson and a lot of students have never been in that building," Miller said.

He said he told Chancellor Greg Kegel last month about his idea to clean up part of the building's common area on the main floor which was used to host social events.

In the month since then, the Senate has been cleaning, disposing of items stowed in the building and putting up decorations, Miller said.

"We have put a lot of time and effort, the whole student Senate has, to get it cleaned up," he said.

 Despite years of not being used, electricity has not been shut off to Donaldson Hall and its bathrooms and kitchen have running water, he said.

Though they have only cleaned rooms on the ground floor, Miller said, he hopes the rest of the building will eventually be open for use.

He said an invitation to the ball has been extended to U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, who will give the commencement address at Saturday's graduation ceremony.  

The ball will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $25 for an individual and $40 per person and can be purchased at the door on the night of the ball. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to a fund for the Donaldson Hall restoration project.