Dang, son. It is the last day of classes. I'm nearly a whole semester less a freshman than I was when I first came here. All I have to do now is pass a few finals and I'll have actual college credits under my belt.
If this were last year, you'd probably be constructing some kind owf t-chart in your mind to determine whether or not it's safe to stress-eat an entire plate of that Dewick bacon, because on this day, of all days, you really don't want to show any extra pudge. Because at Tufts, being done with classes was always the perfect excuse to take of all your clothing and do laps around Olin. But not anymore.
As a freshman, I am a member of the first class to not be privy to this unclothed tradition since before any of us were born. The Naked Quad Run, as a school-sanctioned event, is a relic of the university's past. Our children will read about it under "Culture and student life" on the Tufts Wikipedia page with wide-open eyes and ask us if we partook, and the class of 2015 will have to say no.
But enough about NQR. It's time to start our own legacy. The Excessively Overdressed Quad Stroll might happen, and it might be funny this time around, but it probably won't have much staying power. Anyway, I look sharp when I'm tearing up the quad regardless of the occasion. Sweatpants are sharp, right?
We're a smart bunch of undergrads, though. Surely we can think of something more enduring. I was sitting in the common room trying to come up with a clever idea when my BFF Jack struck gold. Here's the dealio:
Since the absence of NQR is going to leave us a little more stressed this finals season, it makes sense that we'll be spending a little more time holed up in the stacks. Having the Tisch reading room open until 6 a.m. means that there will be many a dorm room vacant until 6 a.m. Seems like such a waste, doesn't it?
That is why Tufts should institute the first ever finals-week-dorm-subletting program in collegiate history. Think about it. Somewhere out there, there are people who would give anything to relive their college days, even money. All we need to do is set a rate and fill out one of those nifty guest passes, and soon we'll be rakin' in the dough.
To all you naysayers, I see your point. Feasibility and practicality are not my strong suits. That's why it's up to us as current Tufts students to take an extra helping of ingenuity stew. Together, I truly believe that we can make a lasting impact on university history. This semester has taught me that college is not just about academics (who'dathunk??!?!).
A lot of college is about doing goofy, inane things all in the name of tradition. Because tradition is what binds us all together. And, no, I'm not confusing "tradition" with "tuition."
Until we come up with our earth-shattering NQR 2.0, we might as well appreciate everything else this place has to offer. This past weekend in particular was filled with shows galore and plenty of opportunities to forget about impending tests. We might not be allowed to streak across the quad, but our naughty streak is still there. Just watch B.E.A.T.s get creative with their new "drumsticks" or sit through the 9:30 showing of TDC. We've still got it.
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Hannah Furgang is a freshman who has not yet declared a major. She can be reached at Hannah.Furgang@tufts.edu.
