On Professors Row, fall leaves cover the lawns of fraternities. In front of Zeta Psi, girls line up along a fence, staring into a pile of auburn, yellow and garnet foliage. A fuzzy head pokes through the warm-colored leaves, and a ball of fur emerges. Walter has come out to play.
Walter Psi, or Wally, is the new puppy at Zeta Psi. Three fraternity brothers - sophomores Collin Mayer, Steven Richter and James Gerber - recently purchased the 10-week-old Saint Bernard puppy from a breeder in Rochester, N.Y.
"Everyone here [at Zeta Psi] loves the puppy," Gerber said. "They think he's awesome. He's really chill most of the time, and ridiculously adorable."
When he's not chasing the rake among the leaves or nibbling on the socks of his fraternity brothers, Wally spends his time roaming around the house. The 15 brothers all enjoy his company.
"He's a big ball of joy," said senior and Zeta Psi brother Dan Marcus.
In addition to being a bearer of happiness to the house through his wet kisses and playful antics, Wally is a girl magnet. When the three brothers brought the puppy to a Tufts football game, Gerber recalled that "all the cheerleaders stopped cheering to come say hi to the dog."
"He's way cooler than I am," Mayer added of Wally. "He helps me meet girls, but he shows me up at the same time."
Wally is not just a magnet for the ladies: he receives attention from both sexes. "Anybody who walks by has to stop to look at him," Gerber said. "Guys do, too."
Wally's popularity has even made its way onto the Internet. On Nov. 14, Walter Psi's own Facebook page was created. According to the page, the dog's interests include playing in the leaves, belly rubs and chasing feet. The pup's favorite movies are the three "Beethoven" flicks, and he currently has 20 friends at Tufts.
While Zeta Psi's puppy dominates the Tufts social scene via sporting events and the Internet, the new puppy at Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) takes a more subtle approach. Mac, a 7-month-old Black Lab mix, likes to run around Fletcher Field, barking hello to passing students.
"We try to socialize him," said senior Aaron Goldman, who is one of Mac's three "parents." Goldman, along with sophomores Meredith Ginley and Katie Greenlee, spent five weeks searching for the perfect dog. After making eight trips to numerous shelters, they finally adopted Mac.
Both Ginley and Greenlee had grown up with dogs and wanted to have one at Tufts. Since they couldn't have a pet at the dorms, they waited until moving into ATO. Goldman was thrilled with the suggestion of adopting a canine friend. Growing up with a father who was allergic to animals, he had never been allowed to own a dog, and he was thrilled with the arrival of Mac.
Like Wally, Mac is a calm, friendly and social puppy - important traits for an animal living in a frat house. "We'd rather have a dog that rolls over than barks," Goldman said.
Mac loves to socialize with everyone, even ATO's cat, Disco Ball. Though the cat hisses at him, Mac continues the chase, often sliding around the house. "He just gets so excited about everything," Goldman said. "He has a lot more excitement than coordination."
When he's not playing, Mac sleeps in the room shared by Ginley and Greenlee. The spacious area allows him enough space to walk around when he wakes during the night - which he did three times a night his first two weeks at Tufts. Now, the puppy has adjusted to college life and has learned how to sleep in.
A few houses down on Professors Row, Walter sleeps in Mayer's room, which has been converted into a puppy play-haven. A couch and small gate corner off about half of the room, where the puppy can run around chasing feet - one of his favorite activities. He can play with his toys, watch television, or sleep in his puppy crate.
Like Mac, Wally spent his first few weeks at Tufts whining in his sleep. The fraternity brothers, however, took turns comforting the puppy during the night. "Everybody here is so into it," Gerber said. "The only problem is there's too many people that want to take care of him."
Though both Zeta Psi and ATO were at first nervous about having a puppy while attending school, they have been pleasantly surprised by the team effort displayed by the houses' inhabitants.
"We were worried about the time commitment involved with getting a puppy," Gerber said. "But everyone here loves Walter, and are more than willing to help out if needed. Wally is never alone for more than an hour."
Mac's "parents" don't only have the time commitment of school: they also play sports. Luckily, Goldman's swimming season and Greenlee and Ginley's sailing season do not overlap. Thus, there is always someone who can watch Mac.
"He gets top priority," Goldman said.
