Brown University traditions
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This follow is the summary of the traditions of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.
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[edit] Opening Convocation
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[edit] Commencement
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[edit] Josiah S. Carberry
One of Brown's most notable traditions is keeping alive the spirit and accomplishments of Josiah S. Carberry, the fictional Professor of Psychoceramics (the equally fictional study of cracked pots), who was born on a University Hall billboard in 1929. He is the namesake of "Josiah's", a University-run snackbar. "Josiah" is also the name of the University's electronic library catalog.
[edit] Midnight Organ Recital
Every year at midnight on Halloween, students cram into Sayles Hall to listen to the University organist play a selection of death-themed music on the largest remaining Hutchings-Votey organ in the world. [1] The main program of musical selections are always followed by a masterful performance of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.
[edit] Spring Weekend
Starting in 1950, Brown replaced the traditional Junior Week and Junior Prom, which were discontinued during World War II, with Spring Weekend, which featured athletic contests and dances. Concerts featuring invited performers began in 1960.[2] In the past, it has brought in acts such as: [3] [4]
[edit] Naked Donut Run
At the end of each semester, towards the end of the Reading Period that precedes exams, various student groups walk naked through student libraries such as the Rock, the SciLi, and the CIT and offer donuts to students who are studying.[5][6]
[edit] Notable Parties
[edit] Naked Party
Every fall, the Brown Association for Cooperative Housing (BACH) throws an invitation-only "naked party" where all guests remove their clothes upon entry. The hosts aim to create a comfortable setting where people of all body types can celebrate the naked human body. In contrast to the sexually suggestive dancing that can be found at many college parties, dancing at a "naked party" is paradoxically much more tame and devoid of physical contact.[7][8]
[edit] SexPowerGod
SexPowerGod is an annual Fall party, thrown by the Brown Queer Alliance in the university's Sayles Hall, though in 2006 the venue changed to Alumnae Hall. SexPowerGod, while drawing a large segment of Brown and RISD's heterosexual population, also draws a large gay crowd from a number of other New England universities.
The event is promoted across campus with an often controversial poster and flyer campaign. The posters took on a more graphic feel in 2004, depicting sex acts and BDSM. Publicity featured actual Brown students for the first time the next year.[9] Tickets are sold for about $10; however, the event usually sells out, leading to resale among students for as much as $100. The first set of tickets for 2005 was sold out in ten minutes, a line of nearly 200 people remaining. Admittance to the event is limited by the 590-person capacity of Sayles Hall. Until 2005, tickets came as temporary tattoos that were applied on the body. In 2005, some clever students gained admittance to the party with fake tickets, made from scanned tattoos printed on mailing labels. Since the 2005 debacle, the tickets have been replaced by a guest list to avoid fake tickets and resale of tickets.
One source of SexPowerGod's fame and notoriety is its unique use of multimedia. Traditionally, partiers have been provided with identifying numbers upon entry, and a large projector screen publicly relays messages by number, typically comments on costumes and propositions for sex. This system has been absent since 2004.
On November 14, 2005, SexPowerGod was featured on Bill O'Reilly's nationally televised, Fox News show The O'Reilly Factor. Jesse Watters, a producer of the show, gained admission to the November 12 party and shot footage of the attendees.The following day, O'Reilly talked about the party on his radio show, The Radio Factor, saying, "You would have been safer in Baghdad than on the campus of Brown University," and calling Brown president Ruth Simmons and other university leaders "pinheads." On campus, student reaction to the broadcast was generally marked by outrage mingled with pride.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ Brown University Admissions : Traditions
- ^ Mitchell, Martha. (1993). "Spring Weekend." Encyclopedia Brunoniana
- ^ Brown Concert Agency: A History of Spring Weekend
- ^ Brown Concert Agency
- ^ Danielle Cerny Brown Daily Herald. November 15th, 2004.
- ^ "From A To Z: Your Unofficial Guide to Brownspeak" Brown Daily Herald September 3rd, 2004.
- ^ "Across Campuses Groups Bare It All" Danielle Cerny Brown Daily Herald. November 15th, 2004.
- ^ "Black Tie Optional" Rachel Aviv New York Times. January 7, 2007.
- ^ Promoting a Dance Party One Pile of Naked Students At A Time November 10th, 2005. Brown Daily Herald
- ^ "Chaos and Management Failures Marred Sex Power God" Eric Beck. Brown Daily Herald April 27, 2006
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