The Democratic state ticket sponsored a mixer and a free performance by The Proposition last night at Memorial Hall, seeking to bolster the underdog campaign of Boston Mayor Kevin H. White for Governor and Michael S. Dukakis for Lieutenant Governor.

Dukakis was scheduled to speak to the group but was detained by a live radio appearance. The 350 students who attended the gathering, however, enjoyed themselves as they danced to the music of The Orphans, a Boston rock group, and listened to the satire of The Proposition.

The White-Dukakis organization thought of the event to spur student interest in the campaign. "Admission tonight is free, and there is no obligation for coming," said James Loftus of Boston College, student coordinator for the White campaign, "but we hope that everyone who comes will sign up to work at the polls on Election Day."

Patricia Barry, another White worker, said that student volunteers are difficult to attract this year because of widespread disenchantment with electoral politics on college campuses. "We need several thousand students to work on Election Day and we hope to attract a lot by this event tonight," she said.

Their attempts to enlist workers may fail. "I came to hear the band and The Proposition, and to look at the pretty girls," one student said.

"I didn't even know it was a political rally," he added.