Residential colleges provide their own traditions

When it comes to having fun the residential college way, the only rule is that there are no rules. Different strokes for different folks. Hounies, Morsels, and Sillimanders all have their own definition of a good time and how to go about having one.

Of course, there are standard social events, like screw-your-roommate dances, semi-formal balls, Naples nights, theme dinners, and springtime cookouts. Every college has 'em, but each with its own sassy style, distinctive atmosphere, and special flavor. Above and beyond these usual amusements, the colleges have their own fun-spirited traditions as well.

Berkeley

You might have already witnessed Berkeley tradition. Their annual soft porn streak across Old Campus during pre-frosh days is always a well-attended event. Sporting their birthday suits, Berkeleyites fight gawking crowds as they make haste from Vanderbilt to their home turf.

Berkeley seniors partake in the "Night of Your Life" festivities. All seniors are paired off, given 20 dollars per team, and sent on a night of economical adventure on Yale's tab.

Branford

In April, students from all colleges invade Branford's courtyard for the Golden CAF (Carnival of Americarnal Festivities). Don't miss the naked lounge or kissing booth, and remember to whack the bulging bovine piniata of phallic twinkies.

Whereas Golden CAF is open to all, Independence Day definitely is not. On this self-declared and self-centered holiday, Branford students declare thier independence from Yale proper. How do they prove this right to autonomy? With moonbounce, slip-and-slide, and dizzy bat races.

Calhoun

'Hounies party at Hounfest, an all-day celebration held on the last day of classes. Each year the theme changes; the past two have included an MTV dance party and an Elvis Impersonation.

Trolley Day, a tradition introduced by Master William Sledge, finds its meaning and its name in this classic, but obsolete, transportation system. For 'Hounies, however, the celebration has a dual purpose; it's also known officially as Calhoun Hookup Night. According to Matt Morgado, CC '98, Calhoun residents prefer one another to the rest of Yale. "Hey, what can I say, 'Houn-cest is best."

Davenport

DC's era of choice is the '70s, made obvious by Davenfunk, the yearly bell-bottom and platform extravaganza paying homage to the Bee-Gee's, ABBA, and the rest. For garish Brady-esque styles and true disco fever, this is where you want to be.

Come spring, JD Day (John Davenport Day) celebrates the man behind the myth with burgers, bands, and outdoor entertainment galore.

D'porters also enjoy heckling the student-led tours through the college's lovely courtyard. Thinking it too bucolic and pure a representation of Yale, residents try to soil the experience for reality's sake. Of course, it's all in good fun, 100-percent harmless, and completely immature.

Ezra Stiles

Stiles, like its neighbors in Morse, makes up for its campus-fringe location with a strong sense of residential college solidarity. And of course, ES plays a big part in the famous Casino Night extravaganza. The dining hall serves as the gambling floor, home to the real excitement.

Jonathan Edwards

The JE crowd is a tight bunch with a fierce "us against the world" mentality. This may explain COMA (Committee of Midnight Assholes) during which JE frosh wreak havoc on Old Campus the night before finals. Running around the green, singing in what Andrew Krause, JE '00, referred to as "loud, obnoxious, and atonal voices," freshmen taunt studious or sleeping Yalies until something is thrown down at them from the windows above.

But even the closest family has its little spats. "Wet Monday," a college-wide water war, lets JE residents take their good-natured frustrations out on each other with Supersoaker water guns, buckets, and gallons of water.

Morse

Living inside those peanut-brittle walls is a loyal contingent of Morsels. The common room, widely known as "the Morsel," houses a keg every Thursday night. The student-staffed kitchen, also open for business on Sundays and Tuesdays, offers unhealthy edibles that put YUDH cuisine to shame.

In conjunction with Stiles, Morse hosts Casino Night, ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the country's best college campus parties. You can waltz among the slinky sequin gowns, then head next door for a cigar and a round of blackjack.

Pierson

When midweek blues start to settle in, head to Pierson, home to TNC (Tuesday Night Club). The famous weekly lower courtyard keg always promises good company and a welcome break in the midst of hellish weekday academia.

These smaller soirées pale in comparison to the Halloween debauchery of the Pierson Inferno. Costumes are the norm, but not a neccessity.

Last but not least is the Mr. Pierson, a contest to select the man most suited to represent the college. When asked about this year's winner, Chris Burke, PC '99, said, "He sealed up victory when he ripped off his shirt, revealing a not-so-shabby set of pectorals, and did the worm to the tune of Milli Vanilli."

Saybrook

Saybrook lays claim to one of Yale's most famous traditions: the Saybrook Strip. Even without any musical band accompaniment, Saybrugians still bare it all between the third and fourth quarters of home football games.

In addition to this, their bi-annual courtyard parties prove that the Brook's stony surface is a prime spot for dancing and drinking. Both fall and spring festivities draw crowds from each and every corner of the Yale campus.

Saye and Seal Day, Saybrook's own springtime carnival, abounds with craziness; sumo wrestling suits were just one of the many attractions featured last year. One Saybrugian related his fond memories of the event. "Being extremely overweight and throwing yourself all over the place sure is fun," Matt Matros, SY '99, said.

Silliman

To welcome frosh into Silliman's close-knit community, the college annually holds "Frosh Olympics." The event gives Sillifrosh a chance to showcase their skills, whether it be in a water balloon toss or relay race. Silliman Dean Hugh Flick welcomes freshmen to the event in style, wearing only a traditional Greek toga.

Apparently the Silliman powers-that-be are big on costumes; come October, the Dean finds a partner in crime in Master Brownell. Last year, the devilish duo dressed up as KISS for the college's traditional Halloween Pageant and Halloweenie Roast.

Then there's the Safety Dance, hosted by Silliman but open to the whole Yale community. This wild night of '80s music is one of the only times you can wear blue eye shadow, a denim mini-skirt, and leg warmers, without forfeiting your social existence.

The spring season provides more celebration. A few years back, Rich Marshall, SM '96, decided he wanted to have a courtyard party. The result? "Richfest" is an annual carnival held during reading week complete with moonbounce and sno-cones.

Timothy Dwight

When I think TD, I think naked. "Why?" you ask. Let me tell you. Two words: Exotic Erotic. This annual party makes the long walk to TD well worth your while. As far as the dress code is considered, the more risqué, the less you pay. Not everyone's costume has to be as extreme as Sumit De's, SY '99, roommate, who "wore a raincoat to TD, but took it off when he got there, only to reveal that he was wearing nothing but a strategically placed paper towel."

On a tamer note, after school's start, the whole college treks to a TD and Yale alum's rustic abode in upstate New York. The college's location--far-removed from central campus--can seem isolated and intimidating to freshmen; the trip gives them a chance to bond with their fellow TDers.

Trumbull

With the only femme-fatale Master, the future of Trumbull tradition looks especially promising. For Trumbull seniors, "Stealing the Sculpture" is a real-life game of Capture the Flag, except with a flag which is very, very heavy. In fact, "the flag" that the graduating class must heist is actually the cumbersome courtyard artwork.

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