ISU students have the opportunity to learn a new skill tonight during a Ballroom Dancing Forum sponsored by the Freshman Council.

The event will be from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Gallery Room of the Memorial Union, said Brandon Schaefer, president of the Freshman Council. The event is free and open to the public.

“People can come in at any time to learn to ballroom dance,” said Schaefer, sophomore in agricultural business. “The entire campus is welcome to come in at their own leisure.”

Schaefer said the Freshman Council is excited about the forum, which will teach students and faculty something new and different.

“We encourage everyone to come out and attend; give all types of ballroom dancing a try. It should be a lot of fun,” he said.

Dan Fulton, member of the education committee, said he thinks the event will be fun for everybody and give those with previous experience in ballroom dancing a chance to enjoy it a little more.

“It will be fun for everyone who attends. The education committee did a really good job,” said Fulton, freshman in chemical engineering.

Martin Moen, member of the education committee, said the dancing session is the first in a series of forums put on by the committee.

“This is the first forum. We’re going to try and do a monthly forum to teach students different things,” said Moen, freshman in computer engineering. “So when we meet on Sunday we’ll plan the next idea for a forum — what to do, where it will be and when.”

The education committee is in charge of the basic set-up of the event, Moen said. The committee sets up the program, arranges a meeting area and publicizes the event. Moen said a key part of the forums is finding people who are willing to lead it for free so that it will be a free event.

This is only one of many things the Freshman Council is doing new this year, Schaefer said. The Freshman Council also will be sponsoring an event that will help update resumes and improve interviewing skills, and there will be a fund-raising dance in mid-November.

While the main focus of the evening is ballroom dancing, Moen said bringing a partner isn’t required.

“You don’t have to bring your own partner — not everyone has one,” he said.