Triangle TAP is one of the best TAPs of the year, especially during Homecoming. But this year, this was not the case. It might even go down as one of the worst taps of the semester.
After the day long football game debauchery known as Homecoming, which unites current students and alumni alike, drunk partygoers were forbidden from entering certain houses on the Triangle. Instead of holding TAP at Mayo-Smith, Hitchcock and Seelye simultaneously, SoCo decided that only two TAP houses would be open at a time in a rotation throughout the evening. This year TAP featured live bands and House music, in addition to empty ballrooms and closed doors not advertised on the table tents.
Even residents of the houses found access to their rooms denied. Some Hitchcock residents were stranded outside. "It was pretty ridiculous," said Leighton Leib '02. "There was a bigger crowd of people outside than inside. It was a little disconcerting."
Luckily, the daytime festivities at the Homecoming football game made up for the lackluster evening. Tailgate parties, tasty food and free drinks abound. A group of alums from the Class of '89 mixed margaritas with a gas-powered blender, offering their beverages to anyone that walked by.
Students were excited by the opportunity to have a Saturday free of work and the opportunity to socialize with their friends and alumni from years past. "I enjoyed being able to talk to friends more easily, watching a good football game and eating other people's food," said Pete Cymrot '03. "TAP is always just TAP-it's a nice change of pace to see so much of the school show up at a grinding-free event like the football game, instead."
Achtung, baby!
It's that time of year again. A time when everybody gathers together in a spirit of glad celebration. No, not Spring Break, not the non-denominational "holiday season" but October, or rather Oktober, when the Porter House plays host to its annual Oktoberfest party.
The usual nightlife trend of "pimps and hos" was shoved aside for one evening by a steady stream of Damen und Herren heading across the town common from Porter to Triangle TAP.
The party was catered by members of the German Club who provided all varieties of wursts and pretzels and brought out case after case of German beer.
"I was surprised by how well the guys could cook," said Jae Chang '05. "They just kept coming out with more and more."
Following quickly on the heels of Valentine's German night featuring pretzels, schnitzel and knockwurst and an Oompah band, the whole campus seemed to be feeling a little more like Deutschland. Oktoberfest featured a similar polka band, but some found it amusing for different reasons.
"Having the band there was a great touch," said Cathy McDermott '05. "Mixing a polka band with a lot of drunk kids made for some good fun."
Even more than in previous years, Oktoberfest drew crowds that rivaled and, according to some, dwarfed those at the less-than-phenomenal Triangle TAP. Perhaps a repeat will be in store for next year.
Though few traded their TAP-standard tight leather pants for liederhosen, and nobody's running around screaming "Ich bin ein Berliner," Oktoberfest will go down in the books as a success for Porter House.