For better or worse, Gustavus has two traditional greeting ceremonies. First-years are greeted, both officially and unofficially, by two simultaneous traditions that go back decades. One group, the Gustie Greeters, is nothing short of general college-authorized insanity. The Greeters have been orienting new Gusties for decades and they do a damn fine job of it. The other group, however—the College Ave party-goers and sign-bearers mentioned in last week’s article—have been orienting new Gusties just as successfully for probably just as long.

Its perhaps a little strange to think of seemingly drunken ne’er-do-wells as fulfilling a valuable service until you realize that the partying which occurs on the first day of orientation is probably the most responsible that will happen all year simply because of the extra scrutiny to which it is subjected.

If you’ve listened to the Peer Assistants at all (which you should) you’ll no doubt know by now that drinking and partying are a part of the college experience in which many students choose to engage. There are few doubts in my mind that the levels of responsibility which are shown by those drinking on the first day of orientation would make the Peer Assistants proud. Since this is likely the first non-televised experience most first years will have with college drinking the parties on College Ave should be touted as a tradition of responsible fun.

“But Jacob,” you might say, “What about those tasteless signs that they hold? Surely that’s a tradition without value?” Ah, gentle reader, that’s where the hypothetical version of you would be wrong. The signs are valuable for two reasons, any one of which alone would be justification enough for their continued existence.

The first and foremost is that they are funny. This may seem like a trite and silly reason, but on what is probably one of the most exciting, frightening, and generally nerve wracking days in a young person’s life, anything and everything which lessens the tension is an absolute godsend. Finally, the signs teach first years to take themselves, the day, and the transition into college life a little less seriously.

First-year students bring a vast set of preconceived notions of what college life means with them on their first day. Chief among these notions are the stereotypes that exist of college students as drunken and debauched. However the very self-aware and very tongue-in-cheek way the signs are shown serves to destroy this myth. By assuming the role of an over the top stereotypical college student, the College Ave partygoers simultaneously satirize and debunk the stereotype.

The parties on College Ave represent a tradition. They represent something about us as a group at the most basic level. I like to think that what they represent isn’t a mere love of being drunk as a lord by noon, or even our desire to stick it to the man by drinking in front of parents. I like to think that it shows that we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and that while we do honor and love our established traditions, we are self-aware and mature enough to poke a little fun at them.

And I above all I like to think that it represents our love of welcoming new Gusties into a lifelong community.

Jacob Lundborg ‘12