FTC party re-imagines the spirit and thrill of Y2K

By Grace Bonamico

Photos by James Suckle

The Downbeat was sent back 25 years in time on Sept. 25 for Five Towns College’s Weeks of Welcome (WOW) party, with this year’s celebration paying tribute to all things Y2K.

Y2K, also known as Year 2000, captures the late ’90s and early 2000s aesthetic marked by bright colors, animal prints, metallic fabrics, and more. The term more famously referred to fears of computer systems malfunctioning as the year turned from 1999 to 2000, with many worrying that programs would read the year as 1900. Luckily, the transition was largely uneventful.

The Downbeat was decked out with silver streamers and balloons, while students arrived in era-inspired looks, track suits, dresses over jeans, and plenty of butterfly clips. The throwback outfits paired perfectly with the playlist, which featured Y2K hits such as “Wobble” by V.I.C. and “Party in the U.S.A.” by Miley Cyrus, keeping the dance floor full.

“A lot of people showed up and the loved the party.  They loved the music, they loved the new DJ, and the mix between Y2K and new-age music. It was a really good vibe all around,” said Lindsey Meakem, Director of Student Activities.

Students fueled up with a spread of sandwiches, followed by cookies later in the evening. No FTC party would be complete without Assistant Dean of Campus Life Mike Cavalli’s mocktails. This time, the special menu included the Y2K Bug (Strawberry Citrus Hawaiian Punch, Lime Juice, Non-Alcoholic Ginger Beer, and Edible Glitter) and the Shirley 2000 (7-Up, Seltzer Mix, Grenadine, and Maraschino Cherries). 

For many, it was their first FTC party. “I’m having a lot of fun,” said first-year Mass Communication major Joey Broggy. “It’s good that Five Towns College has these parties that people can go to.”

Even though most students on the dance floor weren’t alive when flip phones and frosted tips ruled the world, the night proved that Y2K style is timeless. Between glittering streamers, throwback tracks, and Cavalli’s sparkling mocktails, Five Towns College made the turn of the millennium feel brand-new.

For a generation born after 2000, the WOW party wasn’t just nostalgia; it was a chance to step into an era they’d only heard about and make it their own.