Featured Image: A table centerpiece at the UTM Fantasy Ball, made by the students hosting the event on March 6, 2026, in the UC Ballroom. (Pacer Photo / Laur Davis)
On March 6, 2026, Sigma Tau Delta hosted the UTM Fantasy Ball at the University Center Ballroom from 6-8 p.m.
Several organizations partnered with Sigma Tau Delta to help bring the event to life, including The Switch, The Dungeons & Dragons (DND) club, Japanese Anime Research Society (JARS), the Paul Meek Library and more. The students were invited to dress up and embrace fantasy and imagination.
Elle Edwards, president of Sigma Tau Delta, was one of the major students who brought this event to life. She was inspired by the rise of the romantasy genre.
“I thought it would be a really fun idea because of the romantasy craze. We wanted to target that and give people a reason to dress up really fancy and have some fun,” said Edwards.
For those unfamiliar with romantasy, it is a combination of the genres fantasy and romance. The genre rose to popularity over the last few years amongst young adults, mainly women.
One of the other major volunteers was Electronic Resource and Discovery Librarian and Head of Outreach Ronne Cox with the Paul Meek Library. She ran a pop-up library table, displaying different books in the fantasy and romantasy genre with personal recommendations aplenty.
“The library has been looking at expanding our programming for the last couple of years. We always look for fun partnering, so when Elle reached out, I said that the library wants in on it,” said Cox. “I want people to understand that the library is not just for old dusty books. We are a place of creativity and culture, and we encourage lifelong reading. If that means bringing romantasy books or fantasy to a really cool event, that’s what we’ll do.”
The library’s mission has remained the same over the years. They want to revive students’ love of reading, aiming to provide a variety of books that any young adult would want to read from, including the ever-popular romantasy.
“It’s okay to be your true self, and the library can support you,” said Cox, wanting to leave a message for UT Martin students.
JARS hosted a ‘fairy dust’ booth, which involved spraying willing participants down with glitter to sparkle up their outfits with a fairy-like glow.
Stationed beside them were representatives from the DND club. They read runes, helped people decorate with temporary tattoos or applied henna from the rune readings. The rune readings were especially unique with the ability to either pick your fortune or let a person pick for you.
The rune readings involved reading between amethyst or obsidian rocks that have certain symbols for the fortune telling etched into them. From the stones that you picked, they would tell your fortune, and you would have the option for the symbol created to be applied on your skin with henna.
The Switch was in attendance to promote their new edition releasing later this semester, and Assistant Editor Dahlia Bates was there to represent.
“Sigma Tau Delta is closely tied to The Switch because one of their head members is also our executive editor. It seemed like a match made in heaven,” said Bates. “I hope people find a sense of community during this event. A lot of people here are more of the creative types. It’s bringing people together, and I think that’s beautiful.”
There was also the option to create your own potions, bookmarks, sign up for a book raffle or participate in a costume contest. Three judges deliberated between several contenders for three categories. The prizes were bags with a blanket, mug and pens.
It was a magical night that the students certainly won’t forget. The itch to dress up and belong created a feeling like no other.
