Fitzwilliam College Winter Ball is set to become a Spring Ball, as the event has been postponed until March 2021.

The biennial event, which usually takes place during the final week of Michaelmas term, has been delayed due to uncertainties surrounding Covid-19.

The Committee took the decision to delay the Ball after being unable to raise the funds necessary to plan the event.

Unlike many college balls, the Fitzwilliam event does not receive any financial support from the College. It instead relies on early ticket sales in order for the Ball Committee to organise the budget.

The Winter Ball launch event, which was due to be held at the end of April, was cancelled due to the remote nature of this Easter Term. Subsequently, no tickets have been sold and the Committee said it had little choice but to postpone.

In a statement released this morning, Ball Committee President, Dmitry Bashtanov, assured students that postponing the event will ensure a greater chance of it taking place.

Bashtanov stated that the Committee “would much rather put on a ball than not, and do so in the safest possible environment.” Plans for a Spring Ball in 2021 are going ahead whilst the Committee continues to monitor government and university guidelines.

The Committee noted a positive side to the delay, hoping that it “will make it easier for the whole Fitzwilliam community, including graduates and alumni, to attend the event.”

Bashtanov also said that the decision “does not affect events planned by the JCR and MCR in Michaelmas”, adding that whilst he “cannot speak on their behalf” these “events are easier to socially distance” and “require less financial risk to go ahead”.

This decision comes at a time of uncertainty as to what the University’s social life will entail in the next academic year. The University’s scenario planning for the forthcoming year outlines that social distancing will be enforced if students are to be in Cambridge next year.

There has been no update about whether Selwyn College’s Snow Ball, which is ordinarily held every December, will take place this year.

This year’s Girton’s Spring Ball, held on 13th March, faced criticism for going ahead despite growing health concerns about the pandemic.