The annual Red and White Ball, hosted by the Union Activities Board, was not a possibility this year for financial reasons. The Inter-Residence Council has planned the Red Ribbon Gala as a replacement for the nixed Red and White Ball this semester.

The IRC is throwing a Red Ribbon Gala on Saturday, Feb. 26 to raise money for the Alliance of Aids Services-Carolina. The gala will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the College of Textiles Atrium on Centennial Campus.

Elizabeth Missey, a junior in social work, is the chair of the committee responsible for putting on the social event.

“We were inspired by the Red and White Ball because we knew that [Union Activities Board] wasn’t doing one this year, so we wanted a social event and we wanted it to be red,” Missey said.

UAB is not hosting the Red and White Ball because the money was put toward having Ludacris play at Reynolds Coliseum last semester instead.

“If we are going to be doing a social event, we should be doing something that gives back,” Missey said. “The Alliance of Aids Services-Carolina helps people in the triangle live with HIV/Aids, and we think it is a great organization to support.”

Summer Higdon, a sophomore in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, said the committee chose AAS-C because it could also help students on campus who may have AIDS.

Buses will leave Talley Student Center starting at 7:30 p.m. For those who wish to drive, parking is free on Centennial Campus for the event.

There is no entry fee to attend the gala, although Missey said donations are strongly encouraged. IRC is selling VIP passes for $3 that will grant access to the second level of the venue.

On the second floor will be a mocktail bar and a wider variety of food. Attendees will be given a red ribbon for their donation as well.

The VIP passes will be sold at the door and on the Brickyard Feb. 21-25.

Formal attire is required for the gala. “Women are expected to wear floor-length dresses and men should wear suit and ties,” Missey said.

The gala is the first event of the semester for IRC, and attendance is expected to reach 300 students. There is also a Facebook group that gives attendees all the needed information.

Higdon is excited for the gala because it is one of the “few formal events that anyone can go to on campus.”

There will also be a live DJ at the event, Adam Allington, a sophomore in international studies and German.

“My DJ name is AtomikA,” Allington said. “I think the event is really cool because it is being held on campus. It’s pretty cool for the students because you get to party where you go to class.”

Allington and IRC have been working to make the original goal a reality.

“They have great ideas and they know just what their vision is, and how they want to make it happen,” Allington said.

As for the playlist, Allington plans to play a lot of hip-hop and top 40, as well as electronic dance music, which he says is, “really starting to hold home.”

Allington enjoys working with organizations on campus like IRC that are involved with N.C. State.

“My first year here I didn’t get as involved as I wanted to, so now I can be involved with the University in a unique way and work with people similar to me,” Allington said.

Allington encourages all students to come out to the Red Ribbon Gala.

“It’s a unique thing that you don’t see too often,” Allington said.

ALT: Atomik Explosion

Atomik Entertainment was founded in December 2010, headed by sophomore Adam Allington who goes by “AtomikA” while he is turning the tables.

Allington went to Germany in high school, and was introduced to the European club scene.

“Ever since then I’ve been into dance music and stuff. I listen to six to eight hours of music a day and I started hearing the European influence in music,” Allington said. “I just thought it’d be a good idea to be a DJ.”

Earlier this month Allington was a DJ at the NHL All-Star Game and at the Raleigh Convention Center at the Wide Open Festival.

“I played for 16 hours through two days,” Allington said. “Which a lot of guys have never done over their whole DJing career.”

Allington played to a crowd of about 45,000 people.

“The Fashion Group at the College of Textiles had a fashion show there, and that’s how I got the gig,” Allington said. “I did a mix for them and I was in charge of coordinating other performer’s music, and helping them with their stuff.”

Allington said he owes that gig to Afaf Seyam, Junior in fashion and textile management and the president of the Fashion Group at College of Textiles. The large gig helped Allington establish Atomik Entertainment allowing his career take off.

“It’s helped me launch off and have a presence in Raleigh,” he said.

Allington is set to play the Red Ribbon Gala Feb. 26.

“It is going to be a fun, wild party, but it is going to be safe,” Allington said.