ProposalfortheCreation

of
WelcometheFirstYearStudentsWeek

TRADITIONSCOMMITTEE
BrynMawrCollege
Monday,December7,2015

***Notetoreaders:ThisproposalwascompiledforsubmissionandapprovalbytheHellWeek
WorkingGroup,BoardofTrustees,andthecollegeslegalcounsel.Thesecommitteeswill
reviewourproposedchangesduringtheupcomingWinterBreakandannouncewhatproposal
elementstheyapproveinJanuary.
Noneofthecontentsofthisproposalareguaranteedparts
ofthenewWTFWeek.
Lastly,thispublicversionoftheproposalhasbeenslightlymodifiedto
preservepartsofthistraditionthatmanyinourcommunityconsidersacredandprivate.The
TraditionsCommitteewillansweranyfurtherquestionsregardingthisprivately.Wecanbe
reachedatwtfweek@brynmawr.eduoralternativelyquestionsmaybesubmittedanonymouslyat
bmctraditions.tumblr.com
.***

TableofContents

Introduction.2
ProcedureandMethods.......2
WelcometheFirstYearsWeekActivitiesandEvents....38
A. Wednesday..3
1. TraditionsEndorsed,StudentOrganizedPageant...3
2. Activitiesorganizedbyotherclubs.3
3. CloistersSing...3
B.Thursday....35
1. DormDressupDay.3
2. ClassroomActivities4
3. ThomasPerformances..4
4. AthenaAwards.5
C.Friday..58
1. GoingOffTheGrid.5
2. GoodheartPerformances6
3. BedtimeStories...7
D.Saturday.8
1. ReconciliationDayBrunch..8
IV.Tasks..8
V.StudentClubsandAthleticTeams..8
VI.Training..8
VII.WTFFreeZones...9
VIII.Conclusion..9
IX.Acknowledgements..10
X.Contributions.10
Appendix:SurveyData.....1112

I.

Introduction
ThemissionofBrynMawrCollegesWelcometheFirstYearsWeekistowelcomeall
newmembersoftheCollegeandreaffirmthecommunityscommitmenttounityand
inclusiveness.Itallowsanopportunityforeveryonetobondthroughfunevents,ratherthan
bondingthroughacademicprojects,assignmentsorstress.Newcommunitymembers(Buds,
previouslyreferredtoashellees)askatrustedupperclassstudenttobetheirRose(previously
referredtoasheller).ThroughoutWelcomeTheFirstYearsWeek,RosesassignBuds
individualizedtasksandattendTraditionssponsoredeventstogether.Thesemayincludedressing
upincostumes,sharingtalentswithfriends,writingletterstofriends,passingoutflyersonwhya
certaincelebrityisthebest,etc.Tofacilitatethesegoals,allparticipantsstrivetomaintaina
balancebetweenhavingfunandrespectingtheboundariesofthemselves,others,andthecampus
itselfatthesametime,studentsmaintainresponsibilitiestoacademicandpersonalwellbeing.
UpperclassstudentsareencouragedtoengageinWelcometheFirstYearsWeek,buttheir
primaryresponsibleistocreatemeaningfulexperiencesfornewcommunitymembersand
supportthemthroughouttheweek.Communication,understanding,andtrustarekey
componentsofasuccessfulWelcometheFirstYearsWeek,whichshouldbeanenjoyable
experienceforeveryone,regardlessofhoworiftheychoosetoparticipate.
Itsimportanttonotethattraditionschange.Evenmore,itsnecessarythattraditions
change.WhatmadesenseforMawrterstwoor10or20or70yearsagomaynotmakesensefor
ustoday.WelcometheFirstYearsWeekhashadalonghistory,butithaslookeddifferentfrom
yeartoyear.Originally,therewerefirstyearplays,whichlastedformanyyearsunderthename
ofHellWeek.Thefirstyearplaytraditionwasreformedfromthesingle,unifiedplaytomany
diverseperformances.OtherdetailsofHellWeekhavebeenaddedasthetraditionhasgrown
includingitsrenamingthisyeartoWelcometheFirstYearsWeek.WelcomingtheFirstYearsis
thefocusinordertocreateamoreindividualizedexperiencethanothertraditions,andensure
thatwhilecommunitymemberscanchoosetheirownpath,everyonebelongshere.
TheBrynMawrcommunityparticipatesinTraditionsinwaysthataremeaningfulto
them,whichmayincludedecidingtonotparticipate.TheBrynMawrcommunityperpetuatesa
messageofacceptancethatisspreadthroughWelcometheFirstYearsWeekbycelebratingnew
studentsthrougheventsliketheAthenaawardsandperformances.Attheseeventsallnew
studentsarecheeredonencouragedtoembraceandshowcasethequirksthatmakethemspecial.
Upperclassstudentsensurethatallindividuals,regardlessofparticipationlevel,aregiventhe
samesenseoflove,welcome,andsupport.

II.
Procedure/Methods
TheTraditionsCommitteecollectedfeedbackfromthecommunityduringtwoHot
Topicsandanonlineresponseform.ThisdatawasreviewedbytheTraditionsCommitteeand
compiledintotwocommunitysurveysinwhichapproximately28%ofthestudentbody
participated.Thecommunitysurveysweredesignednotonlytoobtainideasfromthecommunity
butalsotogainbuyinandexcitementaboutthenewtraditions.Theresultsofthefinalsurvey,
foundintheAppendix,helpedtoinformourdecisionmakingprocessindeterminingthe
activitieswhichwillcompriseWelcometheFirstYearsWeek.

III.

WelcometheFirstYearsActivitiesandEvents
A. Wednesday
TaylorBellringsatsundown,at5:38pmonFeb.17th,signalingthatWelcomeThe
FirstyearsWeekhasbegun.
1. TraditionsEndorsed,StudentOrganizedPageant
:Thiseventwillbeheldon
theWednesdayeveningofWelcometheFirstYearsWeekintheCampusCenter.
Signupsforthiseventwouldtakeplaceaweekbeforethetraditionandwouldbe
openonlytonewstudentsthoughothersudentsmaywatchtheshow.The
TraditionsCommitteewouldcollaboratewithagroupofstudentswhohaverun
theannualBMCPageantinpreviousyears.Inthepast,thishasbeenaneventthat
hostedbyasmallgroupofstudentsbutattendedbyagreatmanycommunity
members.Thecommunityhasbeenreceptiveofthisactivitysowethinkitisa
goodideatoworkwithagroupofstudentsandcreateatraditionthatwillbe
endorsedbytheTraditionCommittee.Thiseventwouldbesponsoredbythe
TraditionsCommitteebutwouldbeorganizedandplannedbythedesignated
groupofstudents.

2. Activitiesorganizedbyclubsandorganizations
willbeendorsed,whichwill
havelowtomoderatenoiselevelsforexampletheArtClubhasheldactivitiesin
Arnecliffe.

3. At8PM,currentundergratuatestudentswillgatherintheCloistersforaspecial,
shortenedWTFWeek
CloistersSing
.There,studentswillsitwithfriends.We
willprovideblankets,heaters,andthejuniorclasspresidentswillprovidehot
chocolate.ShouldtherebeinclementweatherThomasGreatHallmaybeusedas
analternativespace.WewillcreateanewWTFWeekSongbookandworkwith
studentstoincorporatesongsnottypicallysungatStepSings.

B.Thursday
1. DormDressupDay:
Eachdormstraditionsrepssubmitathemeforthedressupday.Theseare
preapprovedbytheTraditionsCommitteeandaredeemedtobeingoodtaste.
Throughoutthedaymanystudentsdonothavetimetoreturntotheirroomto
changeclothing.Weproposethatstudentsbepermittedtowearcostumesinclass
andinWTFFreeZonesregardlessofwhethertheprofessororFreeZonehas
optedinoroptedout.

2. ClassroomActivities:
Lastyear,professorsweregiventheopportunitytooptinwithrespectto
inclasstaskperformancesbyfirstyearandnewstudents.Itwasthusassumed
thattaskswouldnotbeallowedintheclassroomsettingunlessotherwise
indicatedbyindividualprofessors.Arosterofprofessorswhohadoptedinwas
thensentouttothecommunitysothatstudentswouldknowhowtoplantasks
accordingly.Ifprofessorsdecidedtoallowtheperformanceoftasksintheir
classrooms,theyweregiventheoptiontosetlimitationsorcreateguidelines.That
is,aprofessormayhaveallowedtaskperformances,butonlyforthefirst15
minutesofclass.
Thisyear,forWelcometheFirstyearsWeek,wewouldliketoapplya
similarapproach.Wethinkitismoreeffectiveforaprofessortosaythattheyopt
intoparticipatinginaneventsuchtaskperformancesinclassrooms(tasksmay
includesingingasongthemestothesubjectoftheclass,readingapoemor
lecturingonasubjectrelatedtoclass).Wethinkthisalleviatesthesenseof
pressurethataprofessormightfeelwhendeterminingiftheywouldliketoallow
tasksintheirclassroomonThursdayand/orFridaybecauseitisassumedthat
theiranswerisnounlessotherwiseindicated,aswasdonelastyear.Ifa
professoroptsin,weproposethattheformalsoincludethefollowingoptionsfor
professorstochoose.Acompletelistofprofessorswhohaveoptedinandtheir
choiceoftimefortaskswillbereleasedtostudents.
Professorcanallowtaskstobeperformedduringthefirst1015minutes
ofclass.
Professorcanallowtaskstobeperformedduringthelast1015minutesof
class.
Professorcanask,butarenotrequiredto,thatstudentsinformthemafew
daysaheadoftimeiftheywillwanttoperformataskduringclass.

Theconsumptionorpossessionofalcoholand/orotherillegalsubstancesby
studentsisneverpermittedintheclassroomsettingandwillcontinuetobe
prohibitedduringWelcometheFirstyearsWeek.RoseandBudtraining,which
everyRoseandBudmustgothroughandisdetailedlaterinthisdocument,will
reinforcetheseexpectations.Andweencourageallstudentstoconfrontothers
whoviolatedtheserulesasrequiredbytheHonorCode.

3. ThomasPerformances:
FirstYearsandnewstudentsarewelcometoperformrehearseddances,skits,
acts,etc.inThomasGreatHallbetween5pmand7pmontheThursdayof
WelcometheFirstYearsWeek.Eachperformancegroupmayconsistof5
participantsorless,andtheymustallbeFirstYearsornewstudents.Each
performanceislimitedto1minuteorshorter.Allotherstudentschoosingnotto
participateintheperformancesmaywatchandsupporttheirpeers,andareableto
4

enterandleaveastheyplease.ExitdoorsaswellastheGreatHallitselfwillbe
monitoredbyTraditionsCommitteememberstomaintainthespace.Alcoholor
anyotherillegalsubstanceswillnotbeallowedinthisspace,andanystudent
foundwiththesesubstanceswillbeaskedtoleavetheeventimmediately.Wedo
notintendtoexceedthemaximumcapacityofthefacility,andoncetheGreat
Hallhasreacheditsmaximumcapacity,wewillstoppermittingentranceuntila
numberofstudentshaveleft.TraditionsCommitteememberswillnotbepolicing
studentsbutwillbepresenttoensurethesafetyofallindividualspresent.

4. AthenaAwards:
ThiseventwillbeheldontheThursdayeveningofWelcometheFirstYears
WeekandwillbereplacingTrialsandPunishments.Thisisanawardceremony
thatwillbeconductedineachdormwhereFirstYearsandnewstudentsreside.
Awardsceremonieswillbethemedbydormwhichwillbeapprovedbythe
TraditionsCommittee.Anynewstudentswhodonotliveoncampuswillbeable
tochoosethedorminwhichtheywillbegiventheiraward.Upperclassstudents
willbehostingandorganizingtheawardsceremonies.Thescriptsforthe
ceremonieswillbewrittenbydormTraditionsRepresentativesandeditedand
approvedbytheTraditionsCommittee.Eachfirstyearandnewstudentswho
wouldliketoparticipateintheeventwillbepresentedwithanaward,a
crossbodysashthatcanbewornthefollowingdayandkeptasamomento.This
awardismeanttocelebratesomethingpositivethatthecommunityseesineach
personbeingwelcomed.Weintendtomakethiseventasinclusiveaspossible.
FirstYearandnewstudentparticipantsdonotneedtohaveaRoseinordertobe
givenanaward.AllFirstYearandnewstudentswhowouldliketoparticipate
willbeequallyinvolved.Ifanystudentdoesnotwishtoattendorcannotattend
anawardwillstillbemadeandgivenatalatertimeiftheysowish.Therolesof
upperclassstudentwillbeasfollows:Seniorsawardhosts,Juniorsaward
announcers,Sophomoresawardpresenters.

C.Friday
StudentsmayopttowearthatsashtheyreceivedattheAthenaAwardstoday.

1. GoingOffTheGrid:
ThisistheactivitythatwaspreviouslycalledConfinement.Confinement
typicallytookplaceonahallineachdorm,andjuniorsorganizingtheactivity
wouldblockthewindowswithnewspaperandprovidefreefoodforFirstYearsin
thedorm.FirstYearswereencouragedtocatchuponacademicstudies,takea
nap,practiceforGoodhartPerformances(discussedindetailbelow),andengage
5

inanyactivitytheywishedto.FirstYearswhoneededtocomeintoorstepoutof
thedormduringConfinementwereblindfoldedandledbytheirHellersor
CustomsPeopletotheirdestinations.
Inlightofconcernsregardingtheimplicitpowerdynamicandtheproblematic
ideaofconfiningFirstYearsinasinglespace,wearebanningblindfolding,
blockingwindows,andforcefulconfinement.Toaccountforthestrongwishesof
thestudentbodytomaintainadesignatedblockoftimeandspaceforfunand
relaxation,weproposethefollowingnewactivities:
a) FacultyPerformancesThomasGreatHall
WeinviteallfacultymemberstoperformfortheBrynMawrCommunity.
Theperformancescouldbeinawiderangeofstyles,includingdance
performances,skits,potatolectures(ashorttalkonatopicrelatedto
potatoes.Pastexamples:
"ThePotatoasaFoundationforRenaissanceArt
andArchitecture,"TheTaoofTaterTots,and"NetworkingthePotato:
EthernetandSpuds.),etc.
b) WatchMovies(Thomas110or224)
c) DoHomework(Carpenter)
d) PracticeforGoodhartwithfriends(designatedclassroomsinThomas)
e) PotatoLecturesbySeniors(designatedclassroomsinThomas)
f) FoodProvided,juniorswillhostthisforthestudents

*
Ifastudentwishestonotparticipatetheymaydoso.

2. GoodheartPerformances:
TheoriginalGoodhartPerformancesevolvedfromtheannualFirstYearSpring
Show.TheweekspriortotheFirstYearperformancesinvolvedintensivetime
andrehearsalformonths."HellWeek"isthetheatricaltermusedfortheweek
priortoashowgoinglive.It'scalledHellWeekbecauseitsthetech,orchestra
andcostumerehearsalsallbeingaddedtogetherforthefirsttimeandeverything
ischaosuntiltheproblemsareworkedout.Traditionallyupperclassmenplayed
prankstorelievetensionandoddjokeswereastrongpartofthatweekamong
theatricalcastandcrew.OriginallyHellWeekwouldhaveendedattheSpring
ShowandtheGoodhartPerformancesaretheevolutionaryremainsofthat
traditionofwhichHellWeekwassimplyapart.

Changesmadetothistraditionpertaintoproblemsseensurroundingthecultureat
theseperformancesincludingbutnotlimitedtoalcoholconsumption,nudityand
alsoproblemswithpeoplewaitingoutsideforprolongedperiods.
6

OnFridaynightfrom58PMstudentswillcongregateinGoodhartTheaterwhere
FirstYearBrynMawrstudentsmaychosetosharetalentswiththecommunity
throughrehearsedperformances.Eachactwillbeamaximumof2minutesand
willincludegroupsof5ormorestudents.Forthelast30minutesSeniorsperform
SeniorStrutsorchoreographedperformancesasafinalgoodbyetothe
community.TheperformancesendandarefollowedbyBedtimeStoriesineach
dorm.

Inordertomakethiseventmoreinclusivetomorestudentswewillbeasking
whetherperformerswouldlikephotographyduringtheiractandwewillalsobe
livestreamingtheeventforthosewhowouldstillliketowatchbutdonotwantto
beinthetheater.Thiswillalsocombatthepreviousyearsproblemofpeople
waitinginthecoldbeforebeingallowedtoenter.Wealsohopetochangethetype
ofperformancessotheyincludemoretalentbasedactsandthroughBudTraining
encouragestudentstoexercisetheiragencytodeterminewhetherornotthey
wouldliketoperform.Wewouldalsoliketonotethatinpreviousyearsitwasthe
HellersresponsibilitytosignupHelleesandthisyearthiswillbechangedso
theBud/helleewillberesponsibleforsigningthemselvesupforperformances.

3. BedtimeStories:
SeniorsreadtheirfavoritestoriestoFirstYearsandotherunderclassstudents.
Foodandwaterareprovidedbythedorm.Thishastraditionallybeenoneofthe
mostintimateevents,whenseniorscelebratetheirfriendshipwithstudentsacross
allclassyearsandsaygoodbyetounderclassstudents.

D.Saturday

1. ReconciliationDayBrunch:

InordertoputmoreemphasisonwelcomingFirstYearsandcreatingcommunity,
andtakingintoaccountstudentresponses,theTraditionsCommitteewillsponsor
ReconciliationDay.Toencouragethecommunitytopauseandspendtime
togetherwewillsponsorabrunchonSaturdaymorninginthedininghalls.We
willprovidemealcardsforthosestudentsnotonthemealplansothattheycan
participate.

IV.Tasks

TheTraditionsCommitteeencouragesRosesthoughtrainingtopersonalizeschedulesfortheir
Buds.Weexplicitlystatethattaskswhichinvolvealcohol,sexualsituationsornudity,damageto
property,grounds,andbuildingarenotpermitted.

V.StudentClubsandAthleticTeams
Inyearspastclubsandathleticteamshavehadtheopportunitytoalsoprovidetasksfortheirnew
studentssoastopromotegroupbonding.Thiswillcontinuetobethecasethisyear.The
TraditionsCommitteewillpreapproveallschedulessubmittedbyclubsandteams.Anygroups
whichdonotsubmitscheduleswillnotbeapprovedtoprovidetasks.Eachclubandteamwillbe
responsibleofdesignatingeitheroneortwopeopletodesignthetasks,thesestudentswillalso
berequiredtoattendRosetraining.

VI.Training
LastyearHellertrainingwascomprisedofapowerpointpresentationfollowedwitha
quiztomakesuretheyunderstoodtheirresponsibilitiesasHeller'sThisyearwewillbe
introducingalcoholtrainingintothenowRosetrainingandalsoincludealistofdosanddonts
forRosestoabideby.Thistrainingwillalsoincludealistofthingsthattheymustincludeinto
theirBudschedulessuchastheashortparagraphstatingthateverythinginthescheduleis
optional,alistofWTFfreezonesandalistofresourcestheymaycontactforsupportshould
theyfinditnecessary.
Budswillalsobetrainedthisyear,somethingthathasnotbeendonebefore.Theywill
havesimilartrainingtotheRosesbutwillbefocusedmoreonempoweringthemtomake
choicesforthemselves.Thistrainingwillalsoincludealcoholtrainingandincludealistofthings
thatareandarentallowedfortheweek.
ByaddingBudtrainingwehopetoinformnewstudentsonwhattheweekshouldlook
likebyansweringanyquestionstheymayhaveandalsothoroughlydiscussingtheeventsofthe
week.Throughthisprocesswewillalsoincludealistofpeopletheymaycometoforadviceand
supportshouldtherebeaproblemintheirweek.

VII.WTFFreeZones
TheTraditionsCommitteeandBrynMawrcommunityrecognizethatstudentswill
participateinthetraditionastheyseefitforthemselvesincludingnotatall.Thesestudentshave
therighttospaceswhereWTFweektaskswillnotbeperformedandthereforehavecompriseda
listofspacesthatwillremainfreeoftasksfortheweek.Costumesarepermittedinthese
locations.

Allclassrooms(unlessprofessoroptsin)
Alllibraries
Alldininghalls
BlueBus
Haverford
Anyplaceoffcampus
QuitaWoodwardRoom
8

Career&ProfessionalDevelopmentOffice

ThePensbyCenter
CampusSafety
Guild
TheHealthCenter
CivicEngagementOffice
CanwyllHouse
TheroomsofHallAdvisors,CustomsPeople,PeerMentors,andCommunity
DiversityAssistants

VIII.Conclusion
ThoughweproposethesechangesinordertoreimagineHellWeek,wesincerelyhope
thatWelcometheFirstYearsWeekwillmaintainthecultureofcommunity,andthespiritof
silliness.Beingahistoricallywomenscollegemeansthatweassertbelongingtothosethathave
beendeniedaccesstoacademicspaces.WelcometheFirstYearsWeekisawayofcelebrating
eachother,andcelebratingthatwebelonghere.
Empoweringwomencannotjusthappenintheclassroom.GenderandWomensStudies
wasbornfromtheuseofpersonalnarratives,andacknowledgingthatpoliticalformationof
identityhappensoutofembodiedexperience.Inotherwords,womenandgroupsofpeoplewho
havebeenmarginalizedduetogenderareintimatelyawareofourembodiedexperiences.Wedo
nothavetheprivilegeofseparatingourlivesasstudentsfromourlivesasfriends,workers,
internationalstudents,studentsofcolor,differentlyabled/disabledstudents,andotheridentities
thatwecarrywithusoncampus.Thedemandsofacademiadrainusofourpersonhood,because
withconstantwork,assignments,andpressure,wedonothavesufficienttimetoourselves,or
timetorest.
ThetraditioninFebruaryistheonetimethatweofficiallyhonorandlegitimizebeing
sillyandfrivolous.Itistheonetimethatwedeclarethatourprimaryresponsibilityisto
celebrateourselves,andcelebrateeachother.Itisthetimethatthroughindividualizedtaskswe
saytoeachother,Weseeyou,weknowyou,andyoubelonghere.Wevaluewhatyouhaveto
offer.WhenwetalkaboutpreventinghazingontheTraditionsCommittee,changingthe
culture,andtrainingBudsandRoses,wedosotoensurethatthisweekistrulyatimeofhealing,
notharm.Therefore,webelievewhatweproposeforWelcometheFirstYearsWeekatBryn
MawrCollegemaintainstheintegrityofthetradition,topromoteingenuity,community
involvement,andcampushealing.

IX.Acknowledgements

TheBrynMawrundergraduatecommunity,staff,alumnae,andallmawrtyrswhotooktimeand
energytosupporttheirfellowmawrtyrsduringtheprocessofwritingthisreportanddeciding
thesechanges.Thetraditionscommitteecouldnothavedonethiswithouttheirinputandsupport.

TheBoardofTrusteesforreadingthisdocumentandtakingintoaccounttheneedsandwantsof
thestudentbody.
PresidentKimCassidy,ProvostMaryJ.Osirim,andtheDeanofStudentsJudyBalthazarfor
meetingwiththeTraditionscommitteetodiscussthedetailsofthistraditionandhelpingus
alongtheway.

X.Contributions
DijiaChen,16TraditionsMistress(20142015)
KathrynHinchey,16McBrideTraditionsMistress(2014201520152016)
PamelaGassman,16TraditionsMistress(20142015)
MariaMorrero,16McBrideTraditionsMistress(20152016)
CelesteLedesma,17TraditionsMistress(20152016)
JasmineRangel,17TraditionsMistress(20152016)
SofiChavez,17
CassandraPaul,18
KatherineLee,18
SohiniManiar,18
TaraWadhwani,18

Appendix
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