Wed 18 May 2005
My normal project around this time of year is to try to figure out who the co-presidents of the incoming JAs are and send them this letter.
What we have, as current-President Schapiro can explain better than I, is a collective action problem. Everyone (undergraduates and alumni alike) wishes that everyone knew the words — it would be wonderful to sing The Mountains at events ranging from basketball games in the gym to hikes up Pine Cobble to gatherings around the world. But there is no point in me learning the words since, even if I knew them, there would be no one else who did. Since no single individual has an incentive to learn the words, no one bothers to learn them. We are stuck at a sub-optimal equilibrium.
Fortunately, you have the power to fix this. You could learn The Mountains together, as a group, during your JA orientation this week. You could then teach all the First Years during First Days next fall. It will no doubt make for a nice entry bonding experience. All sorts of goofy ideas come to mind. How about a singing contest at the opening dinner, judged by President Schapiro, between the different dorms with first prize being a pizza dinner later in the fall?
I have been doing this, off and on, for a decade now — so far, without success. Some years I forget. Some years I just e-mail the co-presidents. One year I even e-mailed all the incoming JA’s (whose names had been listed in the Record). Before, EphBlog came along, I had a lot of spare time.
Some years, no one seems interested. Other years they seem to be, but nothing much happens. A few years ago, the co-presidents were extremely gung-ho on the idea and did there best to implement it, but failed. It just seems like the current (?) practice of teaching people at the first class meeting in Chapin can not work because it is not enough time to learn the song. First years need to learn it in their entries before the meeting. And the only way that will happen is if the JAs learn the song before First Days and then teach the first years. The natural time for that learning to occur is, obviously, during JA training.
Anyway, I never got around to it this year. Does anyone know who the new JA co-presidents are? I believe that JA training starts next week . . .
May 19th, 2005 at 5:25 am
David: The fraternities used to take care of their pledges’ learning the words to The Mountains, Yard by Yard, Come Fill Your Glasses Up, etc. Add another item to the long list of desirables lost when fraternities were asked to leave. Incidentally today’s students seem to know, somehow, the words to Yard by Yard.
May 19th, 2005 at 11:55 am
A large number of the Varsity sports teams sing Yard by Yard before or after their games. I know for a fact that a significant number of the fall sports teams sing it (footbal, soccer, field hockey) and there are probably others that also do. I’ve often seen it spread by those students then teaching it to other students.
It also helps that the rhyming makes it pretty easy to learn. :)
May 19th, 2005 at 2:57 pm
The Marching Band sings “Ode to Eph” at the end of football games, after playing “The Mountains” and while the football team is bobbling together in the middle of the field.
Incidentally, the football team loses so infrequently that there was some uncertainty about whether or not to play “The Mountains” after a defeat.
Ode To Eph (sung to “Ode to Joy”)
We’re the Ephmen,
We’re from Williams,
We’re demure and civilized.
We have money, we have futures,
We have classy purple ties.
We are cultured and exalted,
These are things that YOU are not.
Walk beside me, O my brother,
Just be sure to bow a lot.
(Trinity ending:
We are cultured and exalted,
These are things you cannot be.
You are scaly, unwashed heathen,
‘Cause you go to Trinity.)