By Melissa Domsic
Special for The State News
Frankenstein and his bride boogied down Friday night as the "Monster Mash" blared through an eerily decorated ballroom.
As a finale to the month-long festivities of East Lansing's One Book, One Community program, students, faculty and city residents came together for the Frankenstein Costume Ball held in the MSU Union.
"Our purpose was to bring the community and students together, to interact and to make students who live off campus feel more involved," MSU spokesman Kristan Tetens said.
For the second annual One Book, One Community program, East Lansing residents and MSU students and faculty all read the same book - Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein." From Sept. 3 through Oct. 3, the community took part in various events pertaining to the book, such as panel discussions, theme dinners and movie showings.
Ball participants dressed up as different characters, or things, from Frankenstein for a chance to win prizes donated by local organizations and businesses.
Along with the costume contest, the winners of the essay contest were announced at the ball. More than 40 people turned in essays about Frankenstein, and the three winners received Barnes & Noble gift cards.
More than 100 people attended the ball, mostly students in ROIAL, the Residential Option in Arts and Letters. They were required to read Frankenstein for their Freshman Seminar.
"We had to participate in a lot of community events," ROIAL freshman Elizabeth Bohnhorst said. "But it was an enriching experience."
Bohnhorst, who won the prize for most creative costume, was dressed up as a lightning bolt with her neon yellow T-shirt illuminated from glow sticks she broke open on her clothes.
"It (the lightning bolt) is one of the most profound symbols throughout the novel Frankenstein," she said.
Mark and Merry Gastambide won the prize for the most elaborate costumes. The couple from Perry came dressed as Frankenstein's monster and his bride. The Gastambides followed the One Book, One Community events in the newspaper and brought their 3-year-old son to Frankenfest.
"Mark is a huge Universal Monsters fan," Merry said about her husband, who could barely talk through his intricate mask. "We've had these costumes for years."
Mark's costume was so ornate that he had trouble walking. He wore about six-inch-high platform shoes that he made with the help of a shoe repairman.
"It's very precarious," Gastambide garbled through his mask. "If I take a step backwards, I'm pretty much done."
