The last few weeks have been filled with editorials and articles about the problems with Tufts' social scene. I understand the complaints about campus social life and agree that it can be improved. Yet I believe that instead of exclusively blaming the administration and waiting for the social messiah to descend upon the school and save us from watching reruns on Nick at Night every Friday, we can take a few steps ourselves to ensure we have a good time on campus.
We need to improve school spirit. Remember Homecoming a couple weeks ago? How you met up with a group of friends early in the morning to barbeque and tailgate? How the stands were packed with people cheering for Tufts, and how the enthusiasm carried over to parties all over campus that night? At many schools, days like these are not called Homecoming; they're just Saturday. At Tufts, however, besides Homecoming and a few basketball games last season, finding school spirit on campus is about as likely as Britney Spears becoming the first lady.
The only place I can consistently see new people of all different races, ethnicities and fraternities on campus is at the wild and crazy Club Tisch. Why can't the student body take a couple hours out of its week to support the Jumbos as they battle against the mighty Ephs of Williams and Lord Jeffs of Amherst?
Maybe creating nicknames for the athletes will make the teams seem more professional and create spirit. How about Chris "The Hammer" Decemberle, Jeremy "Too Smooth" Black, Matt "Eagle Eye" Linde, or Craig "Vinny Chase" Kunkes? Whatever inspires you, let's all schedule a few days in addition to Homecoming to break out the grills, turn on some music, and watch a game as a school.
We need to have more Tufts nights out. This year, the only place I can count on seeing a large group of Tufts students is on Tuesday nights for karaoke. As much as I love hearing "Don't Stop Believing," "Summer of '69," and "Livin' on a Prayer" being butchered every Tuesday by the Tufts crowd, I believe we can add a few other regular nights out.
Back in my Tufts prime, Thursday night was Magoons night. This bar had everything: It was spacious, it had a real dance floor, and it served politically incorrect drinks like Irish car bombs. Then, one day, I showed up and no one was there, and I'm pretty sure it was not just because people knew I was coming. Let's bring back Magoons night.
But why stop there? I never understood why we try to cram people into one house or fraternity until it gets so full that you can't take one step without getting a beer spilled on you. It seems logical for houses and fraternities to designate a party night to have that week's major parties. It's simple economics that, the more competition, the better the product. (I know my professors would be proud of me for applying economic theory to improving parties on campus).
Or houses can take the Captain Planet approach and combine forces to create a super party. It seems logical to have five houses in a row each sponsoring a party so that people can hop conveniently from one house to the next with each house having different mixed drinks, or music, or whatever attracts kids these days.
I understand that people are upset about parties being broken up early and the lack of options on weekends, but we can take steps independent of the administration to make college fun. We need to open up doors on campus and organize certain events for certain nights on a regular basis. Once a part of Tufts social life becomes institutionalized, it can't be stopped (like NQR).
It is also important to remember that the most important aspect of college is making friends for life and being around people you like. As long as you are with people you enjoy, it doesn't matter if you are in a grimy basement, an expensive club or a dorm room. So keep trying to change Tufts' social policy if you feel it necessary, but don't forget to enjoy your time surrounded by friends while you have it. Craig Kunkes is a senior majoring in political science.
