On the last day of spring term, students gathered for a campus-wide carnival and barbeque all in the name of, well, fun.
Speculations varied as to why exactly such a substantial amount of time and effort were pumped into adult-sized moon-jumps, air-filled bungee-cord contraptions and inflatable slip-n-slides. Was it a means to promote campus-wide chaos? The glorification of childhood reverie? A lack of funding to take everyone to an amusement park? Chances are that ease is the word. Carls have got groove, they've got feeling, but they've also got their fair share of stress. As commonly seen in Carleton traditions, toys seem to be the surefire way to at least lessen the strains of academia (e.g. a salad bar filled with slinkies and superballs during Late Night Breakfast).
Alongside jumbo-sized rubber formations were button-making machines, an eight hole mini-golf setup (It spelled out CARLETON in canary-yellow plastic and blue astroturf), t-ball sets, and of course, frisbees to boot. The dining halls catered the event with summertime staples like bratwursts and potato salad. Don't worry, they didn't forget the veggie-burgers. Apples and caramel sauce were the dessert of choice to round out the evening. Carleton usually ends things on a sweet note like that.
After the sauerkraut and lemonade had settled, the majority of students headed either to Mai-Fete island for the last Wednesday night bonfire of the year or, sadly but not uncommonly, the library. And so reading days began, though not without further campus efforts to ease the pressure of finals. Other events included acapella groups' spontaneous library performances, the bell choir playing "Whistle While You Work" in Sayles-Hill, and improv-comedy tactics to lighten the mood.
