Rising seniors toast Hey Day

Hill Square was littered with styrofoam chunks on Friday -- proof that the Class of 2005 did not stray from the Hey Day traditions that have signified the initiation of the incoming senior class since 1931.

This year's outgoing juniors enjoyed a picnic under sunny skies before beginning their procession across campus. They eventually arrived in front of College Hall, where they were greeted by University President Judith Rodin and ambushed with concoctions of mustard, shaving cream and various food items by this year's graduating senior class.

It was "definitely more messy," Rodin said of this year's senior class assault on the juniors. She noted that "apparently, all the eggs at Freshgrocer were bought."

"I could smell it while I was standing there," she added.

Rodin also said she was pleased to hear that very few people were chanting, "Show us your tits" -- even though she admitted that she has not heard the taunts in past years, either. Last year, student groups rallied against the phrase, circulating petitions among students pledging that they would not participate.

The controversy did not arise this year, and more students had their minds on the spirit of Hey Day.

"It's a nice warm day filled with red shirts," said College junior Tyler Gerstenfeld, who was equipped with his Hey Day T-shirt, cane and hat.

Many of Gerstenfeld's fellow classmates got full use out of their Hey Day accessories -- dueling with their canes, rolling up their Hey Day T-shirts in hopes of getting an early April tan and, of course, eating their hats.

"Maybe they should flavor it for next year," Engineering junior Brian Bao said of the styrofoam aftertaste.

"It's slightly barbaric almost -- it's like, 'Hi, you're my friend, let me take a chunk out of you,'" Wharton and College junior David Dubbert said. Though he described the tradition as "kind of disgusting," other rising seniors saw the hats in a different way.

"They taste a little mealy -- like protein," said College junior Mark Guterman, to which his friend, Wharton senior John Shumate, added, "They're good for my low-carb diet."

Many incoming seniors were probably not very focused on maintaining their low-carb diets on Friday, as alcohol played a distinct role in the Hey Day celebration.

"Hey Day starts at like 9:30 if you do it properly," Dubbert said, referring to the early pregaming he had engaged in. Guterman, too, admitted that he was "pleasantly buzzed."

"We can't control what they do before they get here," Director of Student Life Fran Walker said of the inebriated students. "We hope that the Class of 2005 will enjoy [Hey Day] responsibly."

But some said alcohol brought them closer to their classmates.

"My freshman hall had a reunion this morning -- kegs and eggs," Dubbert said.

Many others appreciated the chance to experience an afternoon with their entire class -- an event that had not occurred since the Class of 2005's Convocation.

"There's a lot of people I don't know, and I'm happy that I can identify them as juniors now," Gerstenfeld said.

But emotions were bittersweet as some juniors came to the realization that their days at Penn are slowly dwindling.

"Cherish it while you have it, because four years fly by," College junior Hilary Caruso said.

College and Engineering senior Matt Viani was more focused on the festivities than the future.

"Free food, nice company, no more classes -- what is there not to love?" he said.

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