Freshmen Rethink River Run Rituals

Despite threats of disciplinary action against freshmen seeking to appease the River Gods, some members of the Class of 2013 nevertheless decided to celebrate Housing Day Eve with gusto.

A number of freshmen braved the security guards, policemen, and resident tutors guarding the River Houses in hopes of gaining admission into the House of their choice.

“The popo? Fuck the popo,” said a freshman, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid disciplinary consequences, in reference to the police.

Last week, the College administration had warned freshmen that the police would be monitoring unsafe activity along the river on the night before Housing Day, when freshmen receive their housing assignments.

In the face of the administration’s increased scrutiny of River Run festivities, some freshman blocking groups took the risk and celebrated by the river. Yet others found different ways to commemorate the night.

“We’re going to the Quad, and we’re doing a Quad run,” said a freshman, who asked to remain anonymous to avoid disciplinary consequences. “That’s right—suck it HUPD [Harvard University Police Department].”

Indeed, Samuel B. Novey ’11 suggested that freshmen invent a new tradition like the Quad run. Novey, an Adams House resident, said that he thinks the College administration is overreacting to the few dangerous components of “a generally positive event,” which he found to be the best part of his freshman year.

Some upperclassmen seemed sympathetic to the freshmen’s cause. One River House resident—who asked to remain anonymous to avoid punishment—hosted around 50 freshmen in his small dorm room.

“I think it’s worth the risk,” the individual said. “River Run is a big event, and you can’t just take it away from people.”

But a number of freshmen decided to abide by the rules established by the Freshman Dean’s Office.

“[The restriction] is probably a good idea,” said Pennypacker resident Joshua R. Wortzel ’13. “There is no need for anyone to get into trouble.”

The First-Year Social Committee hosted an alternative to the River Run. Hundreds of pajama-clad freshmen crowded into Annenberg Hall for a “slumber party,” where some students designed matching T-shirts for members of their blocking groups.

But even some law-abiding freshmen opposed the new restrictions.

Greenough Hall resident Krystal L. Tung ’13 said that while the police should make sure that the situation does not get out of hand, students should still be allowed to float boats down the river without setting them on fire.

Grays Hall resident Shiya Wang ’13 proposed an alternative boat-sailing ritual that does not require presence on the Charles.

“We’re gonna fold a boat, set it on fire, and then flush it in our toilet,” Wang said.