Mar. 18, 2005
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Music, mud-wrestling, and traditions: Serendipity 2005
Caitlin Adams
In 1983, the Serendipity committee was, "look
ing into the possibility of using a truck to mobi
lize the beer and keep it cold," wrote Teresa H.
Hymes in the March 25, 1983 issue of The
Guilfordian. In 'B3 students could buy Serendipity t
shirts and beer bracelets in Founders hall for $5.
The tradition of beer trucks may be gone, but the
students of Serendipity '§3 began other traditions
that will be enjoyed during Serendipity 2005, March
18-19.
The rainstorm that accompanied Serendipity 'B3
inspired an unplanned mud-wrestling event, which
has become a traditional Serendipity activity. This
year mud-wrestling and slip n' slide will take place
between Milner and Bryan hall on Saturday from 2-
5 p.m.
Other scheduled events include Talib Kweli as
the headlining artist, a Friday night performance of
Reverend Pete's Big Damn Band at the lake from
8-11 p.m., followed by the TigerßearWolf and St.
JFC'TEFC-"' 1
COURTESY OF THE QUAKER ARCHIVES
Traditionally, rugby players play wearing prom
dresses during Serendipity weekend
Clare performance at the Student apartments.
On Saturday, Sodexho will provide lunch on
Founders lawn beginning at 11 a.m. (weather per
mitting). Vendors and games will take over
Founders lawn from 2-5 p.m. (rain site Alumni
Gym).
Other Saturday afternoon activities will include
henna tattoo artists, sumo wrestling, tarot card
readings, climbing walls, airbrush t-shirt artist and
musicians Owen and Jim Morrison. Sodexho will
provide snacks and canned sodas.
Student Union and Adrienne Craig, Coordinator
for Student Involvement and Leadership, want this
Serendipity to be different from the rest.
"Everyone wants Serendipity, but why does it
have to be the same routine?" said Craig. "We can
keep some traditions. We know that there is going
to be a concert. But, we don't have to have a foam
party every year or a party in Bryan."
Inflatable games will not be featured this year
because of a smaller Serendipity budget and the
poor response they received during Homecoming.
"We were given a very small budget for
Serendipity," said Student Union President Sarah
Green. "We weren't allowed to spend more than
$35,000. Last year a lot of the money went to
Nappy Roots and all of the blow-up games."
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"We are trying to do different things
without having the same old mold,"
said Craig. "This will work. It is differ
ent, that is what I wanted to do."
Other changes to this year's
Serendipity include it falling on an earli
er date as well as official celebrations
taking place only on Friday and
Saturday.
The reasoning behind this year's
early Serendipity is to avoid conflicts
with other events, such as an open
house for prospective students, Easter
and Guilford's performance of The
Importance of Being Ernest.
"The date of Serendipity was kind of
frustrating," said Green. "It is so close
to spring break. The original idea of
Serendipity was that it was a break
right before finals."
The shortened weekend is due to
new policy.
"The administrators changed the
rules," said Green. "We are only
allowed to do two days of activities. We
kind of cheated and stretched it out to
four days."
"It is officially two days," said Craig. "On that
Wednesday and Thursday we have something less
rowdy."
The final event of Serendipity is the headlining
artist. Talib Kweli will perform Sat. at 8 p.m. in Dana
auditorium. B-Star of The Collective is the opening
act.
Kweli is visiting Guilford as part of a college tour.
"It was kind of funny how we got him," said
Green. "We put in a bid for him several months ago
and he took a bid that UNCG gave. We were think
ing about getting Common after we couldn't get
Talib, to stay with the theme of a socially conscious
artist. That didn't work out. UNCG ended up cancel
ing. We put in a second bid and we got him."
"We worked really hard to get a really good main
artist," said Craig. "A diverse group of students
have been excited; that is why we got him. He
appeals to different groups of people."
One of the largest concerns this year was where
the concert will be. "Regardless of who we got, we
did not want it in the gym," said
Green.
Many students walked away unsat
isfied after last year's Nappy Roots
performance in the Alumni gym.
"The acoustics were so bad that it
was like a high school dance," said
senior Rachel White.
"Students asked for Dana," said
Craig. "I am always trying to be a
voice for the students and do things
that students really want, as long as
they are safe. I know Dana is the best
venue for the concert."
More regulations are applied when
having concerts in Dana.
"Dana is an old venue; it is also a
venue we use for a lot of important
things," said Craig.
No cigarette lighters, cameras,
backpacks, food or drinks will be per-
mitted in Dana. Due to fire codes,
there will be no standing in the aisle
or on seats.
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JAMES LYONS/SPECIAL TO THE GUILFORDIAN
Students enjoy them
selves at the traditional
Student apartments party
last Serendipity
and a lot of people say that springtime at Guilford is
their favorite time of year. Honestly, the way it was
described to me was lots of drunkenness and
nakedness and running around."
In regards to nudity, Keifer Bradshaw, Public
Safety Operations Coordinator/ Crime Prevention &
Field Training, said: "We had a situation a year
ago, there were some parents with some little kids
around campus. We had some calls about the free
dom of expression that the students partake in."
When asked about campus policy of nudity,
Bradshaw pauses and said, "Nudity is against rules
according to state and federal laws"
Security will persist with their normal routines
during Serendipity. "We will continue to patrol, we
will continue to check buildings and we are going to
make sure that doors are not propped opened. We
are going to make sure that the environment is safe
at all times, still enforcing the campus policies,"
said Bradshaw.
Students and visitors must wear armbands at all
times. "According to the policy of Campus Life, all
COURTESY OF THE QUAKER ARCHIVES ;
Students enjoy themselves at
the hoe-down, part of last
year's Serendipity festivities
Greensboro. N.C.
"It is like a regular concert. It is not
any stricter than if you were to go to
the coliseum," said Craig.
The TigerßearWolf show at the
Student apartments is among one of
many Serendipity traditions. St.Clare,
consisting of Guilford students and
alumni, will open for TigerßearWolf.
When asked to describe St.Clare's
music, guitarist and first-year Josh
Shelton took a long pause. "I would
call it, if it had to be categorized, and
hopefully it doesn't, progressive heavy
rock, bordering on math rock, because
we use a lot of complex rhythm
changes."
Though he is a first-year, Shelton
had the opportunity to experience last
year's Serendipity. "I am really excited
about the opportunity to play
Serendipity and I feel that it is an
honor. And I am really excited about
our names being on the t-shirt."
First-year Elizabeth Mehaffey said:
"Serendipity sounds exciting.
Everyone gets really excited about it
students must carry their IDs and
their guests must be registered,"
said Bradshaw.
Amid the enforcement of rules,
Bradshaw still shares the excite
ment of Serendipity.
"Contrary to belief, I do enjoy
seeing the students having a good
time. I just have a feeling that this
one is going to be good. I have
seen an increase of involvement
and that is a good thing," said
Bradshaw.
"I think that this Serendipity has
the potential to be the best one,
because they are making things
different," said White.
These changes in 2005 may
become, "just some of the new
and strange additions to
Serendipity" as Andrea Wiener
and Zane Elrod wrote in the April
15, 1983 issue of The
Guilfordian
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