Exposure, as is important for any organization at SMU, did not prevail last night for Spectrum at its second annual masquerade ball in Hughes-Trigg.

Advisor Debra McKnight said the importance of last night’s event was to “get some interest generated on the campus.”

Though music played throughout the night, the scanty head count of three people did not sit well with Spectrum’s officers. President Michael Jimenez, a junior sociology major and art minor, attributed bad timing to the nearly empty ballroom.

“It’s only the second week of school,” he said, adding that people are probably still in a back to school mindset.

Having participated in the Spring Activities Fair on Thurs. Jan. 12, Spectrum’s secretary Sara Leslie said that the event helped them gain six new members.

“Right now we have less than ten active members,” she said.

Spectrum is a nationally recognized organization on college campuses that unites gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender and straights together socially. Spectrum has been an official SMU chartered organization since 1991.

However, “there seems to be a lot of apathy from most people on campus,” Jimenez said. “But what they don’t realize is that it took a lot of effort to get this group started.”

Spectrum meets every Thursday night at 8 p.m. in the SMU Women’s Center. McKnight said the organization practices a confidentiality policy for those who wish to remain anonymous members outside of group meetings.

“We contact through e-mail and only officers have access to the e-mail lists,” McKnight said. “It’s important for people to know that these activities exist and they are welcome to join.”