Kirkland Master Slams Secret Santa Rituals

Holiday spirits were dampened in Kirkland House last week when Master Donald H. Pfister released a letter characterizing the house's traditional "secret santa" festivities as orgiastic and offensive.

Calling Kirkland's winter dance "the culmination of a period devoted to titillating sexual activity under the guise of Holiday exchanges," Pfister wrote that he found the house's secret santa "mating ritual" appalling.

Unlike the College's 12 other houses, Kirkland does not have an annual winter formal. Instead, house members traditionally hold a holiday dinner followed by an informal dance, during which secret santa identities are revealed.

In the past students have sent overtly sexual messages--usually through skits or striptease shows--to their santees during the dinner, and then "hooked up" with their santas later at the dance, students said.

"We've had problems with things which can be described as sexist," said Kirkland senior tutor Garth McCavana. "I don't think the masters would have written about it if it wasn't a big concern."

Pfister could not be reached for comment yesterday.

His letter called for new rules for this year's dinner and dance, commonly referred to as the "Incestfest."

This winter, the dance and secret santa revelation will be separated. In the past students would reveal themselves to their santees during the party and then dance to a slow song together.

Because the masters feared that the dark atmosphere of the dance--combined with the slow song--pressured students into sexual relations with their santa, revelations will now take place in the lighted dining hall at 9:30 p.m., according toMcCavana. The dance will be held in the seniorcommon room.

The master wrote that his greatest concern wasthe "incredibly insulting behavior" directedtowards students who refused to "participate" atthe dance. "Verbal abuse and insults, includingthe crudest terms and homophobic remarks have beendirected at students who do not want to fulfillsomeone's expectations." he wrote.

According to the master, in the past studentshave left Kirkland as a direct result of thesecret santa activity. One student even attemptedsuicide after being made the butt of a holidayskit, the master wrote.

'Dehumanized Foreplay'

One student characterized activity surroundingthe dance as "a kind of dehumanized foreplay,enforced by peer pressure and ending with adistasteful and mechanical tribal spectacle,"according to Pfister's letter.

But some Kirkland residents yesterday calledthe master's letter an exaggerated depiction ofthe secret santa events.

"The Pfisters think that there is thisunbelievable amount of pressure to go home withyour santa, but I just don't think that is thecase," house committee treasurer Todd S. Cameron'91 said. "Certainly some people go there with alot of expectations because of all of the stories,but I don't think it is as blown out of proportionas the Pfisters made it seem."

"He makes it seem as if people are screwing onthe dance floor left and right, which is totallyridiculous," said Scott D. Beck '88-'90. "Surethere's some mistletoe, and some people 'hook up,'but it's harmless fun. It's a good time with maybea little sexual activity going on--there's nothingwrong with that."

While students said the house's holidayactivities were overly promiscuous several yearsago, they added that guidelines set by the masterlast year prohibiting questionable practices tamedthe student santas.

The master's letter was prompted by a petitionsigned by more than 200 Kirkland residentsrequesting that the date of the formal be changedfrom Saturday, December 16, to the preceedingThursday night. According to Cameron, athleticcommitments interfered with their ability toattend the event on Saturday.

Pfister, who had purposely set the date for aSaturday, asked students why they would allow thedance to "take place during the week when thereare classes the next day."

Cameron said he thought the letter was harshlyworded because the masters were hurt by thestudent petition, which he said the Pfisters sawas "going behind their back." He added, however,that despite the masters' dislike for the events,he did not think the house would do away with itstradition kindly.

Last year about two-thirds of the houseparticipated in the secret santa ritual, studentssaid.

"If Kirkland were to not have this danceanymore, the whole house would really be upset,"Cameron said. "It's just a really good time forthe whole house.