In response to exorbitant university ball ticket prices, the University of Melbourne Student Union Activities Group help a parody ball, entitled the “NOT-Commerce Ball” this year.
The original Melbourne University Commerce Ball is traditionally one of the grandest university balls held each year, and in 2016 will set students back $140.
The NOT-Commerce ball was held at the Melbourne University Stop 2 Bar, and charged its attendees just $5 for a night of first-class dining (instant noodles) on top of bar prices set at a reasonable $4 per drink.
Taking a tongue-in-cheek stab at the regularities of standard university balls, UMSU Activities also provided “premier ipods attached to speaker systems and…multiple dance floors to keep (ball-goers) dancing throughout the night,” as well as a not-so professional photographer, going only by “Steve.”
It comes amid increased financial stress felt by university students as the cost of living continues to increase.
