It’s November, meaning it’s that time of year when our student body fights the oncoming cold in the early morning to celebrate Ithaca College’s No.1 drinking event: the Cortaca Jug. For 70 years, students from IC and Cortland have competed fiercely in obliterating their livers by decking out in ‘school spirit’ wear and pre-gaming pre-9 a.m.
This year however, IC is making a conscious effort to sober our festivities. With ominous signs telling us our “behavior will be monitored” and threatening to turn kids away due to their clothing choice, I ask: Why, Ithaca? Why try to squash our weekend fun?
I mean, I guess I get it – you don’t want families at home thinking Ithaca College is sponsored by Keystone Light and the makers of F*ck Cortland apparel; but what else am I supposed to do on November 12? Procrastinate some more on that award-winning screenplay I haven’t come up with yet? Catch up from the 3 hours of sleep I got during the week? Or, God forbid, finish that research paper that’s now due the Monday after Cortaca?
I can understand not being allowed to bring beverages into the arena (after all, the alcoholics were all hard at work at the Cirlces), but no umbrellas or noisemakers? Now what am I going to do with my vuvuzela from FIFA World Cup 2010? And how else am I going to celebrate when my fellow students shotgun their way to victory, cheer? What am I at a football game or something?
All I’m trying to say is we are just taking the Cortaca Jug literally. And while we can all be safe about how we celebrate, I can always turn homework into a drinking game.