Proposal for the Creation of

Welcome the First Year Students Week

TRADITIONS COMMITTEE

Bryn Mawr College Monday, December 7, 2015

***Note to readers: This proposal was compiled for submission and approval by the Hell Week Working Group, Board of Trustees, and the college’s legal counsel. These committees will

review our proposed changes during the upcoming Winter Break and announce what proposal elements they approve in January. None of the contents of this proposal are guaranteed parts of the new WTF Week. Lastly, this public version of the proposal has been slightly modified to preserve parts of this tradition that many in our community consider sacred and private. The Traditions Committee will answer any further questions regarding this privately. We can be

reached at wtfweek@brynmawr.edu or alternatively questions may be submitted anonymously at bmctraditions.tumblr.com.***

Table of Contents Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….…2 Procedure and Methods……………………………………………………………………….......2 Welcome the First­Years Week Activities and Events………………………………………....3­8

A. Wednesday………………………………………………………………………..3 1. Traditions Endorsed, Student Organized Pageant………………………...3 2. Activities organized by other clubs……………………………………….3 3. Cloisters Sing……………………………………………………………...3

B. Thursday………………………………………………………………………....3­5 1. Dorm Dress­up Day……………………………………………………….3 2. Classroom Activities………………………………………………………4 3. Thomas Performances……………………………………………………..4 4. Athena Awards…………………………………………………………….5

C. Friday……………………………………………………………………………..5­8 1. Going Off The Grid……………………………………………………….5 2. Good­heart Performances…………………………………………………6 3. Bedtime Stories…………………………………………………………...7

D. Saturday…………………………………………………………………………….8 1. Reconciliation Day Brunch………………………………………………..8

IV. Tasks…………………………………………………………………………………………..8 V. Student Clubs and Athletic Teams……………………………………………………………..8 VI. Training………………………………………………………………………………………..8 VII. WTF Free Zones……………………………………………………………………………...9 VIII. Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………..9 IX. Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………..10 X. Contributions………………………………………………………………………………….10 Appendix:Survey Data……………………………………….………………..…………..…11­12

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I. Introduction The mission of Bryn Mawr College’s Welcome the First­Years Week is to welcome all

new members of the College and reaffirm the community’s commitment to unity and inclusiveness. It allows an opportunity for everyone to bond through fun events, rather than bonding through academic projects, assignments or stress. New community members (Buds, previously referred to as hellees) ask a trusted upperclass student to be their “Rose” (previously referred to as heller). Throughout Welcome The First­Years Week, Roses assign Buds individualized tasks and attend Traditions sponsored events together. These may include dressing up in costumes, sharing talents with friends, writing letters to friends, passing out flyers on why a certain celebrity is the best, etc. To facilitate these goals, all participants strive to maintain a balance between having fun and respecting the boundaries of themselves, others, and the campus itself; at the same time, students maintain responsibilities to academic and personal well­being. Upperclass students are encouraged to engage in Welcome the First­Years Week, but their primary responsible is to create meaningful experiences for new community members and support them throughout the week. Communication, understanding, and trust are key components of a successful Welcome the First­Years Week, which should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, regardless of how or if they choose to participate.

It’s important to note that traditions change. Even more, it’s necessary that traditions change. What made sense for Mawrters two or 10 or 20 or 70 years ago may not make sense for us today. Welcome the First­Years Week has had a long history, but it has looked different from year to year. Originally, there were first­year plays, which lasted for many years under the name of “Hell Week”. The first­year play tradition was reformed from the single, unified play to many diverse performances. Other details of “Hell Week” have been added as the tradition has grown including its renaming this year to Welcome the First­Years Week. Welcoming the First­Years is the focus in order to create a more individualized experience than other traditions, and ensure that while community members can choose their own path, everyone belongs here.

The Bryn Mawr community participates in Traditions in ways that are meaningful to them, which may include deciding to not participate. The Bryn Mawr community perpetuates a message of acceptance that is spread through Welcome the First Years Week by celebrating new students through events like the Athena awards and performances. At these events all new students are cheered on encouraged to embrace and showcase the quirks that make them special. Upperclass students ensure that all individuals, regardless of participation level, are given the same sense of love, welcome, and support. II. Procedure/Methods

The Traditions Committee collected feedback from the community during two Hot Topics and an online response form. This data was reviewed by the Traditions Committee and compiled into two community surveys in which approximately 28% of the student body participated. The community surveys were designed not only to obtain ideas from the community but also to gain buy­in and excitement about the new traditions. The results of the final survey, found in the Appendix, helped to inform our decision making process in determining the activities which will comprise Welcome the First­Years Week.

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III. Welcome the First­Years Activities and Events A. Wednesday

Taylor Bell rings at sundown, at 5:38pm on Feb. 17th , signaling that Welcome The First­years Week has begun.

1. Traditions Endorsed, Student­Organized Pageant: This event will be held on the Wednesday evening of Welcome the First­Years Week in the Campus Center. Sign­ups for this event would take place a week before the tradition and would be open only to new students though other sudents may watch the show. The Traditions Committee would collaborate with a group of students who have run the annual BMC Pageant in previous years. In the past, this has been an event that hosted by a small group of students but attended by a great many community members. The community has been receptive of this activity so we think it is a good idea to work with a group of students and create a tradition that will be endorsed by the Tradition Committee. This event would be sponsored by the Traditions Committee but would be organized and planned by the designated group of students.

2. Activities organized by clubs and organizations will be endorsed, which will have low to moderate noise levels for example the Art Club has held activities in Arnecliffe.

3. At 8 PM, current undergratuate students will gather in the Cloisters for a special, shortened WTF Week “Cloisters Sing.” There, students will sit with friends. We will provide blankets, heaters, and the junior class presidents will provide hot chocolate. Should there be inclement weather Thomas Great Hall may be used as an alternative space. We will create a new WTF Week Songbook and work with students to incorporate songs not typically sung at Step Sings.

B. Thursday

1. Dorm Dress­up Day: Each dorm’s traditions reps submit a theme for the dress up day. These are

pre approved by the Traditions Committee and are deemed to be in good taste. Throughout the day many students do not have time to return to their room to change clothing. We propose that students be permitted to wear costumes in class and in WTF Free Zones regardless of whether the professor or Free Zone has opted in or opted out.

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2. Classroom Activities: Last year, professors were given the opportunity to opt­in with respect to

in­class task performances by first­year and new students. It was thus assumed that tasks would not be allowed in the classroom setting unless otherwise indicated by individual professors. A roster of professors who had opted in was then sent out to the community so that students would know how to plan tasks accordingly. If professors decided to allow the performance of tasks in their classrooms, they were given the option to set limitations or create guidelines. That is, a professor may have allowed task performances, but only for the first 15 minutes of class.

This year, for Welcome the First­years Week, we would like to apply a similar approach. We think it is more effective for a professor to say that they opt in to participating in an event such task performances in classrooms (tasks may include singing a song themes to the subject of the class, reading a poem or lecturing on a subject related to class). We think this alleviates the sense of pressure that a professor might feel when determining if they would like to allow tasks in their classroom on Thursday and/or Friday because it is assumed that their answer is “no” unless otherwise indicated, as was done last year. If a professor opts in, we propose that the form also include the following options for professors to choose. A complete list of professors who have opted in and their choice of time for tasks will be released to students.

Professor can allow tasks to be performed during the first 10­15 minutes of class.

Professor can allow tasks to be performed during the last 10­15 minutes of class.

Professor can ask, but are not required to, that students inform them a few days ahead of time if they will want to perform a task during class.

The consumption or possession of alcohol and/or other illegal substances by students is never permitted in the classroom setting and will continue to be prohibited during Welcome the First­years Week. Rose and Bud training, which every Rose and Bud must go through and is detailed later in this document, will reinforce these expectations. And we encourage all students to confront others who violated these rules as required by the Honor Code.

3. Thomas Performances:

First­Years and new students are welcome to perform rehearsed dances, skits, acts, etc. in Thomas Great Hall between 5pm and 7pm on the Thursday of Welcome the First­Years Week. Each performance group may consist of 5 participants or less, and they must all be First­Years or new students. Each performance is limited to 1 minute or shorter. All other students choosing not to participate in the performances may watch and support their peers, and are able to

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enter and leave as they please. Exit doors as well as the Great Hall itself will be monitored by Traditions Committee members to maintain the space. Alcohol or any other illegal substances will not be allowed in this space, and any student found with these substances will be asked to leave the event immediately. We do not intend to exceed the maximum capacity of the facility, and once the Great Hall has reached its maximum capacity, we will stop permitting entrance until a number of students have left. Traditions Committee members will not be policing students but will be present to ensure the safety of all individuals present.

4. Athena Awards:

This event will be held on the Thursday evening of Welcome the First­Years Week and will be replacing Trials and Punishments. This is an award ceremony that will be conducted in each dorm where First­Years and new students reside. Awards ceremonies will be themed by dorm which will be approved by the Traditions Committee. Any new students who do not live on campus will be able to choose the dorm in which they will be given their award. Upperclass students will be hosting and organizing the awards ceremonies. The scripts for the ceremonies will be written by dorm Traditions Representatives and edited and approved by the Traditions Committee. Each first­year and new students who would like to participate in the event will be presented with an award, a cross­body sash that can be worn the following day and kept as a momento. This award is meant to celebrate something positive that the community sees in each person being welcomed. We intend to make this event as inclusive as possible. First­Year and new student participants do not need to have a Rose in order to be given an award. All First­Year and new students who would like to participate will be equally involved. If any student does not wish to attend or cannot attend an award will still be made and given at a later time if they so wish. The roles of upper class student will be as follows: Seniors­ award hosts, Juniors­ award announcers, Sophomores­ award presenters.

C. Friday Students may opt to wear that sash they received at the Athena Awards today.

1. Going Off The Grid: This is the activity that was previously called “Confinement.” Confinement typically took place on a hall in each dorm, and juniors organizing the activity would block the windows with newspaper and provide free food for First­Years in the dorm. First­Years were encouraged to catch up on academic studies, take a nap, practice for Goodhart Performances (discussed in detail below), and engage

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in any activity they wished to. First­Years who needed to come into or step out of the dorm during Confinement were blindfolded and led by their Hellers or Customs People to their destinations. In light of concerns regarding the implicit power dynamic and the problematic idea of “confining” First­Years in a single space, we are banning blindfolding, blocking windows, and forceful confinement. To account for the strong wishes of the student body to maintain a designated block of time and space for fun and relaxation, we propose the following new activities:

a) Faculty Performances­­Thomas Great Hall We invite all faculty members to perform for the Bryn Mawr Community. The performances could be in a wide range of styles, including dance performances, skits, “potato lectures” (a short talk on a topic related to potatoes. Past examples: "The Potato as a Foundation for Renaissance Art and Architecture,” "The Tao of Tater Tots,” and "Networking the Potato: Ethernet and Spuds.), etc.

b) Watch Movies (Thomas 110 or 224) c) Do Homework (Carpenter) d) Practice for Goodhart with friends (designated classrooms in Thomas) e) Potato Lectures by Seniors (designated classrooms in Thomas) f) Food Provided, juniors will host this for the students

*If a student wishes to not participate they may do so.

2. Good­heart Performances: The original Goodhart Performances evolved from the annual First Year Spring Show. The weeks prior to the First­Year performances involved intensive time and rehearsal for months. "Hell Week" is the theatrical term used for the week prior to a show going live. It's called Hell Week because it’s the tech, orchestra and costume rehearsals all being added together for the first time and everything is chaos until the problems are worked out. Traditionally upperclassmen played pranks to relieve tension and odd jokes were a strong part of that week among theatrical cast and crew. Originally “Hell Week” would have ended at the Spring Show and the Goodhart Performances are the evolutionary remains of that tradition of which Hell Week was simply a part. Changes made to this tradition pertain to problems seen surrounding the culture at these performances including but not limited to alcohol consumption, nudity and also problems with people waiting outside for prolonged periods.

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On Friday night from 5­8PM students will congregate in Goodhart Theater where First­Year Bryn Mawr students may chose to share talents with the community through rehearsed performances. Each act will be a maximum of 2 minutes and will include groups of 5 or more students. For the last 30 minutes Seniors perform “Senior Struts” or choreographed performances as a final goodbye to the community. The performances end and are followed by Bedtime Stories in each dorm. In order to make this event more inclusive to more students we will be asking whether performers would like photography during their act and we will also be live streaming the event for those who would still like to watch but do not want to be in the theater. This will also combat the previous year’s problem of people waiting in the cold before being allowed to enter. We also hope to change the type of performances so they include more talent based acts and through Bud Training encourage students to exercise their agency to determine whether or not they would like to perform. We would also like to note that in previous years it was the “Hellers” responsibility to sign up “Hellees” and this year this will be changed so the Bud/hellee will be responsible for signing themselves up for performances.

3. Bedtime Stories:

Seniors read their favorite stories to First­Years and other underclass students. Food and water are provided by the dorm. This has traditionally been one of the most intimate events, when seniors celebrate their friendship with students across all class years and say goodbye to underclass students.

D. Saturday

1. Reconciliation Day Brunch:

In order to put more emphasis on welcoming First­Years and creating community, and taking into account student responses, the Traditions Committee will sponsor Reconciliation Day. To encourage the community to pause and spend time together we will sponsor a brunch on Saturday morning in the dining halls. We will provide meal cards for those students not on the meal plan so that they can participate.

IV. Tasks

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The Traditions Committee encourages Roses though training to personalize schedules for their Buds. We explicitly state that tasks which involve alcohol, sexual situations or nudity, damage to property, grounds, and building are not permitted. V. Student Clubs and Athletic Teams In years past clubs and athletic teams have had the opportunity to also provide tasks for their new students so as to promote group bonding. This will continue to be the case this year. The Traditions Committee will pre approve all schedules submitted by clubs and teams. Any groups which do not submit schedules will not be approved to provide tasks. Each club and team will be responsible of designating either one or two people to design the tasks, these students will also be required to attend Rose training. VI. Training

Last year “Heller” training was comprised of a powerpoint presentation followed with a quiz to make sure they understood their responsibilities as “Heller's” This year we will be introducing alcohol training into the now Rose training and also include a list of do’s and don’t’s for Roses to abide by. This training will also include a list of things that they must include into their Bud schedules such as the a short paragraph stating that everything in the schedule is optional, a list of WTF free zones and a list of resources they may contact for support should they find it necessary.

Buds will also be trained this year, something that has not been done before. They will have similar training to the Roses but will be focused more on empowering them to make choices for themselves. This training will also include alcohol training and include a list of things that are and aren’t allowed for the week.

By adding Bud training we hope to inform new students on what the week should look like by answering any questions they may have and also thoroughly discussing the events of the week. Through this process we will also include a list of people they may come to for advice and support should there be a problem in their week. VII. WTF Free Zones

The Traditions Committee and Bryn Mawr community recognize that students will participate in the tradition as they see fit for themselves including not at all. These students have the right to spaces where WTF week tasks will not be performed and therefore have comprised a list of spaces that will remain free of tasks for the week. Costumes are permitted in these locations.

All classrooms (unless professor opts in) All libraries All dining halls Blue Bus Haverford Anyplace off campus Quita Woodward Room

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Career & Professional Development Office The Pensby Center Campus Safety Guild The Health Center Civic Engagement Office Canwyll House The rooms of Hall Advisors, Customs People, Peer Mentors, and Community

Diversity Assistants VIII. Conclusion

Though we propose these changes in order to reimagine “Hell Week,” we sincerely hope that Welcome the First­Years Week will maintain the culture of community, and the spirit of silliness. Being a historically women’s college means that we assert belonging to those that have been denied access to academic spaces. Welcome the First­Years Week is a way of celebrating each other, and celebrating that we belong here.

Empowering women cannot just happen in the classroom. Gender and Women’s Studies was born from the use of personal narratives, and acknowledging that political formation of identity happens out of embodied experience. In other words, women and groups of people who have been marginalized due to gender are intimately aware of our embodied experiences. We do not have the privilege of separating our lives as students from our lives as friends, workers, international students, students of color, differently abled/ disabled students, and other identities that we carry with us on campus. The demands of academia drain us of our personhood, because with constant work, assignments, and pressure, we do not have sufficient time to ourselves, or time to rest.

The tradition in February is the one time that we officially honor and legitimize being silly and frivolous. It is the one time that we declare that our primary responsibility is to celebrate ourselves, and celebrate each other. It is the time that through individualized tasks we say to each other, “We see you, we know you, and you belong here. We value what you have to offer.” When we talk about preventing hazing on the Traditions Committee, changing the culture, and training Buds and Roses, we do so to ensure that this week is truly a time of healing, not harm. Therefore, we believe what we propose for Welcome the First­Years Week at Bryn Mawr College maintains the integrity of the tradition, to promote ingenuity, community involvement, and campus healing. IX. Acknowledgements

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The Bryn Mawr undergraduate community, staff, alumnae, and all mawrtyrs who took time and energy to support their fellow mawrtyrs during the process of writing this report and deciding these changes. The traditions committee could not have done this without their input and support. The Board of Trustees for reading this document and taking into account the needs and wants of the student body. President Kim Cassidy, Provost Mary J. Osirim, and the Dean of Students Judy Balthazar for meeting with the Traditions committee to discuss the details of this tradition and helping us along the way. X. Contributions Dijia Chen, ‘16 Traditions Mistress (2014­2015) Kathryn Hinchey, ‘16 McBride Traditions Mistress (2014­2015; 2015­2016) Pamela Gassman, ‘16 Traditions Mistress (2014­2015) Maria Morrero, ‘16 McBride Traditions Mistress (2015­2016) Celeste Ledesma, ‘17 Traditions Mistress (2015­2016) Jasmine Rangel, ‘17 Traditions Mistress (2015­2016) Sofi Chavez, ‘17 Cassandra Paul, ‘18 Katherine Lee, ‘18 Sohini Maniar, ‘18 Tara Wadhwani, ‘18

Appendix

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