Colgate Professors Form Dance Troupe to be More Relatable and Cool

HAMILTON, NY—In an effort to seem cooler and more relatable to students, a group of Colgate professors have banded together to participate in this semester’s Dancefest. Professors will dance to two sets of loosely choreographed dances to the tune of a poorly mashed-up remix of outdated songs from the 1900s. The group, dubbing themselves “Homework Makes the Best Twerk,” hopes to bridge the divide between students and professors, or at least attempt to preserve the façade that professors care about student’s well-being outside of functioning as an academic means of production.

Initial reactions from students have been disastrous as HMBT made their debut appearance at rehearsals this past week. Rag reporters entered the scene to discover a hapless sophomore girl sobbing and shaking uncontrollably in a corner, having collapsed only moments after watching a professor attempt to do a split. By the end of the first set, half of the other dance groups were seen sprinting out of the Chapel to freedom and a place to vomit.

Dancefest leaders have seriously contemplated canceling the event this semester. Senior Carly Mithe shared, “I just don’t think we can risk exposing the student body to these atrocities— the Counseling Center couldn’t handle such an increase of visits. Of course we don’t want to cancel, but good God, man, is Dancefest worth this?” Incidents of sabotage have been reported in attempts break up HMBT, but the professors have taken it in stride and retaliated by forcing students in their classes participating in Dancefest to write a twenty-five page research paper on the history and evolution of dance since the Neolithic Age.

Cruiser Confessional

HAMILTON, NYAs an act of community engagement, Colgate’s transportation provider, First Transit, has offered an exclusive interview with one of their morn- ing drivers to the Monthly Rag. By request of First Transit, all names and current employment statuses have been replaced or removed from the transcript. 

Rag Correspondent– Can you tell us a little about your experience with First Transit? How and why did you first come into working for them?

Cruiser Driver– Well, they were working the old drivers 26 hours a day and then thought they whined too much. I needed something where my bosses wouldn’t care about the quality of my work and where I could relieve some of my more sadistic tendencies.

 

RC– Can you describe some of the perks of your job for our readers?

C. Driver– Sure. I get to take a lot of smoke breaks between runs, and I like kicking people off the Cruiser. Now, some drivers like to accommodate the poor suckers and fit a bunch of ‘em in the front, but what I like to do is barely fill up, sit at Parker for five minutes and then watch people who are running late run up and ask to come in, then pretend there’s nothing I can do and drive off.

 

RC– Can you talk a little about the camaraderie of the drivers?

C. Driver– That’s actually one of the better parts of my day, we’re a very close team. After the 9AM runs there aren’t many students on our Cruisers so we mostly just gossip about all your petty, privileged asses abusing the Cruiser like we’re your personal Uber.

 

RC– I just have one last question: What happens when students send in Cruiser Feedback? For example, what happens when we ask if First Transit would provide larger cruisers?

C. Driver– Well, those emails don’t actually go to First Transit. We get those sent directly to the drivers so we get to know exactly how miserable people’s lives are. It’s like our funny pages. Why would we need feedback when we know the Cruiser system is flawless?

 

[At this point, Cruiser Driver was running late for her second job as a ferry operator in Hell and had to leave.]

S.T.O.N.E.R.S. Fight Administration on Putting Residential Hall in Field of Dreams

HAMILTON, NY—In a display of widespread peaceful demonstration, over 300 students organized a multi-day Hacky-Sack-in on the Field of Dreams this week to protest the construction of a new residential hall. The building, which would be named the Jonathan and Michelle Jug Residential Complex, was met with initial support from some community members, who said that they were glad to see the end of forced triples and the hellhole that is Gate House. However, a coalition of students calling themselves the Students Together Opposing New Expanded Residential Spaces have become engaged in efforts to prevent construction of the building due to concerns over preserving the land for cultural, historical, and environmental reasons.

The S.T.O.N.E.R.S. protesters contend that the construction of the building would disturb sites that are culturally sacred and historically significant for the Colgate community. Julia Reefer ’17 told a Rag reporter, “Our people have called this place the Field of Dreams and have held rituals here for many generations. Res Life is causing the deliberate destruction of our sacred spaces and disrespect of our ancestors for their own self-interests.”

Other activists expressed environmental concerns. A leader of the protesters, Michael Toker ’18, describes how he first became invested in the preservation of the Field of Dreams, saying, “I woke up from a nap, like a couple weeks ago, and I went up to the Field of Dreams for a . . . walk, yeah, a nature walk. And I saw all these trucks and stuff digging in the field, and I was like, ‘No way, this is a habitat for, you know, like, birds!'” Junior Mary Jane Wallace echoed these sentiments, adding, “One time I was sitting up here and a whole herd of deer came out of the woods, and I locked eyes with one of the does, and it was like, whoa, heavy shit, man.”

The protesters have been joined by celebrity environmental activists who have flown in to support their cause. High-profile supporters, such as Seth Rogen, Snoop Dogg, and that one professor who talks a little too freely about smoking pot to his students, have made the trek to Hamilton because they feel that the construction of the dorm violates of civil rights. Rogen said to a reporter, “The Colgate administration is trying to prevent these students from exercising their fundamental rights to get outdoors and have a place to chill in nature. It should be LEGAL for them to ROLL around in the GRASS up on the field . . . Huhuhuh, get it?” Students later expressed that they did not know why Rogen showed up or who had invited him.

When notified of the student protests by Campus Safety, President Brian Casey and members of the Colgate administration arrived promptly at the construction site and spoke with student leaders, discussing their demands that the construction be halted and the location of the residence complex be changed completely. Casey stated that he is prepared to “let it play out for a few more weeks,” but the protesters have pledged to stay until the planned residence halls are relocated, or at least until their Doritos run out.

Mass Hospitalization on Election Night

HAMILTON, NY—Doctors at Hamilton Community Memorial Hospital worked late into the night as hundreds of students were hospitalized for alcohol poisoning in the wake of the presidential election. “We received a few dozen students at the outset of the evening, mostly freshmen who got too sloppy as the first few states came in,” said Dr. Brian Randall. “As the night wore on, the numbers climbed; we peaked at around 1 A.M.”

Campus Safety received multiple calls across campus from students who had

chosen to imbibe dangerous amounts of alcohol rather than grapple with the implications of a Trump presidency. “By 10 P.M. we had all officers answering calls in dorms and academic buildings, basically anywhere people were gathering to watch the election,” said Officer Krupkay of Campus Safety. An initial 114 students were brought to the hospital with alcohol poisoning when Trump began to build his Electoral College lead. That number rose to 236 students when Trump claimed victory in Ohio and Florida, and then 391 when his lead in Michigan and Wisconsin sealed the noble Secretary Clinton’s defeat.

“You think it’s been a rough night for America? Try being a nurse at the hospital,” said Dr. Randall. “Most of them had to endure semi-conscious students mumbling names of states that turned red in between bouts of vomiting. We’re 95% sure the vomiting was from the alcohol, but there’s a chance it was just revulsion at having to hear the phrase “President Trump” for the next four years.” According to hospital statistics, the average BAC was .20 for the 20 states that Clinton won.

Lack of Closable Frats Forces Administration to Search for Alternatives

HAMILTON, NY—After the attempt to close Beta Theta Pi was met with financial resistance by their deep-pocketed alumni network, the organization was saddled with a national representative. With the student body no longer even pretending the chapters supposedly closed years ago are actually gone, the administration has finally realized they have reached the extent of their power over Greek life. However, they cannot appear impotent in impeding on the social affairs of students and so have developed a new approach. They have turned their attention to clubs and sports teams.

The weak targets have become the guinea pigs for this new program. Due to some long-forgotten oversight, the pep band falls under the authority of the athletics department, one of the few extracurriculars that despite their best efforts cannot qualify for D1 status. In the interest of ruining the interests of students, the board has authorized the department, run by former jocks, to resort to their high school instincts to target music dorks.

It began by denying the band the opportunity to play at football games but still parading them around tailgates. The band acquiesced to the department with little complaint, mostly due to their high school training years of grueling practice and no appreciation. Then the administration tightened the screws, only allowing the band to play at soccer games if it was the third Tuesday in a month with five Mondays. However, much like the frats, the pep band continued to rage on. It appears that the resilience of the pep band comes from their nature as spiteful, tenacious former and current nerds who spit in the face of adversity. Nevertheless, the administration needs an organization to go down soon in order to sate their sadistic appetites for ruining student experiences. The next target has already been chosen. Only time will tell if the Mantiphondrakes can handle an administrative crackdown any better.

Californian Proudly Tells Parents About First Scuff on Bean Boots

HAMILTON, NY—First-year student and Southern California native, Elizabeth Ackerley, explained to her friends with animation and positivity that her parents were indeed as excited as she was by the first scuff that her brand new Bean Boots had received.

Apparently Elizabeth’s mother, Lisa Ackerley, was concerned about her daughter’s well-being, as she did not get the same chance as the East Coast mothers to over-parent her during Parents Weekend. When Lisa began peppering Elizabeth with questions about the fall weather and whether or not she felt that she fit in, Elizabeth pulled out the story that she knew would put all her mother’s fears to rest: scuffing her Bean Boots for the first time.

Elizabeth reportedly told her nervous parents that she had begun wearing the boots in early October, about the time temperatures dipped below 50 degrees. “Initially, I thought that I had bought the wrong shoes or something, because I didn’t see anyone else with the same boots. A few weeks later, though, when all the East Coast kids started wearing their Bean Boots, I realized what the problem was. Mine were too new!”

As Elizabeth explained to her parents, her issue was resolved at the second football game of the year. At the game, Elizabeth was drinking hard cider out of water bottles with some other students whose parents were unable to visit. Elizabeth discovered that she was a little drunker than she realized when she stood up to leave the game and promptly tripped down the bleachers, suffering a concussion and a broken right arm. When Lisa seemed worried after the mention of Elizabeth’s drunk antics, Elizabeth reassured her that “the fall and injuries were actually completely worth it, because I finally scuffed the right side of the toe of my left Bean Boot!” While initially her parents were confused about the significance of the scuff, Elizabeth explained that her social life had changed since the incident and that she now felt like one of the most popular freshmen girls at Colgate. With that, her parents ended their questioning and Elizabeth was free to return to sleeping off her hangover in bed.

At press time, Elizabeth was telling her friends that she should have told her parents that she actually needed a Barbour jacket to completely fit in, because she had spent her entire clothing budget at the Jug.

DU Worships Lizard God

HAMILTON, NY—Hamilton Police apprehended juniors Matt “Luch” Castapadaluccesione and Robert “Jefe” Christopher when responding to report of trespassing from a local farmer. Investigators were baffled by the fact that the two were wearing robes at the time and seemed to be attempting to steal a goat. However, in the course of the investigation it was revealed that the two were taking part in a Delta Upsilon ritual. Local police were forced to obtain a federal warrant and SWAT team to enter the house due to the fraternity’s strict “No Geeds” policy. In the basement, investigators found several altars and effigies of a strange lizard-like figure. “Yo, his name is Ooooooze, and he’s, like, not of this world,” one brother told them.

The brothers have apparently been sacrificing to an inter-dimensional reptile for years, in order to assure a steady crop of “solid eights and above,” for their legendary open parties. “I mean, yeah, we usually burn a little fire bud, a goat, and a VHS copy of Fight Club to this hard-partying lizard god a couple times a year, but it’s, like, a strong part of our brotherhood,” said Louis “The Greek” Kyrikidapoulas,“He gives us guidance on how to live a dope life and score with hotties. I thought he wouldn’t be that chill, since he’s from the Moran IX galaxy, but he’s totally not a squid, that’s like two universes over.” When asked why this multi-dimensional entity required these items he responded “I don’t know, don’t judge the homie. We made Cabo eat a shit ton of spiders, and he’s said they tasted pretty loud, so like, chill, different stroke for different folks, know what I mean?” Fraternity president Mike “Roche Boi” Frattaloni told the Rag, “I mean like I get why people might thinks it’s strange, but honestly, when he comes through during the eclipse of Sagittarius, it’s a straight dope time. Nobody gotta hate, we’re just a bunch of dudes that like to get down, and yeah, sometimes there’s a chill lizard dude, so like, rush DU.”

Psychology Department Conducts Study to Observe Student Reactions to Broken Espresso Machine

HAMILTON, NY—Early Monday of this week, the Psychology Department began a new study investigating the psychological effects of espresso withdrawals. In the span of twenty-four hours, the espresso machines in both Hieber Cafe and Frank Dining Hall have mysteriously “broken.” Regarding the incident, one student reportedly said, “I have to drink coffee coffee? Like a plebeian?”

Another student, upon seeing the “Broken Espresso Machine” sign, reportedly burst out into hysterics and hurled his backpack across Frank, concussing another student while simultaneously toppling both waffle irons.

One student reported just missing her daily life talk with the Frank barista, who, like crème brûlée, is tough on the outside but on the inside is warm, sweet, and made of egg custard.

The Psychology Department did not predict the extremity of students’ reactions and acknowledged that the widespread anger could culminate in riots. In addition, many parents are making threats in their Facebook group to discontinue donations if this espresso-less travesty persists. Due to the extremity of the threats, the administration has promised to return espresso machines to both locations effective immediately. President Casey reportedly told the Psychology Department to keep their experiments in the Olin basement. Though the experiment was cut short, results will eventually be posted on a giant poster that no one will ever read.

Career Services on how to naviGATE a Politically Divided Home over Thanksgiving

HAMILTON, NY—As a part of their Real World series program for seniors, Career Services hosted an informational session for students traveling home over the upcoming break in an effort to teach them some of the skills necessary to handle their family members at Thanksgiving. The coordinator for the event, Karen Wallace, told a reporter, “We really stress strategy and target our tactics for potential future family interactions. It’s important to know key facts, such as state and national voting histories of all extended family members, in order to ensure a smooth and enjoyable dinner with one’s relatives.” Wallace stressed the importance of sticking to key talking points throughout the holiday, such as when being asked about one’s major, it’s best to say Biology or Economics, regardless of what one’s actual major is, as to avoid further questioning or skepticism. This tactic can also be used when Grandma asks why you never call her. It is imperative to explain that you have no recollection of having received her calls and letting them go to voicemail because your phone “just isn’t working,” emphasizing that you are baffled by “technology these days, huh?”

 

When possible, Wallace advised students to avoid potentially sensitive topics, such as your future career path, gun rights, and your cousin Brittni’s new boyfriend. When questioned about how to respond to conversations regarding the results of the Presidential Election, Wallace urged students not to risk discussing the results of the election with family members at all costs. “I get that we all have civic duties to create dialogues about important issues facing the nation and to be mindful and engaged citizens of the world around us, but for the love of all things holy, just sit this one out.” 2016 is an especially complex year to try to escape family interactions, because football is no longer a safe and utterly mindless bonding activity due to the conversations surrounding recent protests over the national anthem. In an emergency scenario, such as your uncle Johnny wanting to show everybody a “great article he saw on Facebook about the rigged media,” Wallace suggested the best getaway to be either the kids table or to the kitchen to help with dishes—because menial labor and having to touch nasty gravy sink water is undeniably better than the emotional brawl and psychological torture that would have otherwise occurred.