Dear SOS,
As a current freshman, I am definitely new to this NQR business. First of all, why does every Tufts publication refer to the said event as the "Nighttime Quad Reception?" Does that mean there will be refreshments? Also, what is the general protocol for the run? Thanks!
Sincerely, Newbie Nudie
Dear Newbie Nudie,
Ah, just the sheer mention of NQR brings about such nostalgia for this seasonal stripfest. It seems like only weeks ago that I was caught in a prickly shrub adjacent to the race path, wearing nothing but a Russian furry hat and Uggs.
Yet despite last year's thorny experience, I fully support running in NQR. If nothing else, the event is an epic story-generator.
There are a few things that I wish had been clarified before I embarked on the exposed episode, and so, if you'd prefer an element of surprise, stop reading here.
What surprised me the most about NQR was that it is inherently a spectator sport. Although Tufts calls it a "reception" for protective purposes, the event avoids the concept of "mediated social gathering" that usually comes to mind when using the term.
In fact, it seemed to me like more students (and God knows who else) were on the "receiving" end of the run, rather than the "participating" end. Last year, I heard of people who watched the run as a "study break" between library sessions, and I vividly remember hearing fellow Jumbos discussing their plans as onlookers: one was bringing a camera, another a sign.
What's even more bizarre, however, is the polarized state of inebriation between the runners and the spectators. Unlike most sporting events, where the intoxication of the fans far exceeds the (hopefully) sober state of the participants, NQR's dynamic is quite the opposite.
In fact, the general condition of the run itself is largely backwards - the people who should be coherent, directional and balanced (the runners) are often not, while the people who, in the better interest of all parties involved, shouldn't have any recollection of the event (the observers), often do.
All of this, however, should not in any way thwart your interest in participating in said event. In fact, I can't even understand how onlookers can actually watch the run without feeling the urge to just jump right into the race. (I had a similar experience while watching a swim meet the other day - seeing scantily clad people play sports just makes me want to join!)
But if you do choose to watch, please do so without: a) recording potentially incriminating video footage. You know that one of these days, a Jumbo is going to be on the precipice of attaining political office, when his/her NQR tape will surface online, ending dreams of participating in local or national government, b) shouting people's names to cheer them on, or c) complimenting runners, after the race, on their "performance."
For you runners out there, it's time to just grin and "bare" it. Remember that NQR is an opportunity to strip away any finals anxiety - or a chance to secretly live out that fantasy you've had of running for a utopian nudist colony's track team.
Contact Charlotte to get advice for all your problems at Charlotte.Steinway@tufts.edu.
