By Guest Writer: Maxwell Levy
To anyone reading this who did not get to the Student Center in time or manage to buy a ticket “off the books,” this one is for you. As a first-year at SLU with just enough money to purchase a pass for Titus, I put on a pair of sunglasses and a weird-looking hat and went off to “Party Mountain” for the first time.
My story starts with a bus ride provided by our lord and savior, Barry the Bus Driver. Barry’s bus had three rules for the duration of the trip to Titus: first and foremost, absolutely no smoking (juuling included); second, no throwing materials out of the bus; third, and the most important, “Do NOT throw up on my bus!”
In a matter of seven minutes, the “pee bucket” was ordered to be passed to the back of the bus. For those of you fortunate people who don’t know what the “pee bucket” is, it is essentially the bus toilet. I recall that plastic bottle being so clean and innocent. Within a few minutes of use by minors who had just consumed hard drugs, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco products, the container was passed to the front with a putridly vile brownish-black-red-tingey-liquid. Originally, I thought the whole “pee bucket” was a joke; however, it was actually an important asset for the journey to the mountain.
After that, everything shifted to a level I could not even fathom. Passengers continued to cause havoc for Barry. People were vomiting, smoking cigarettes, and using other “funny looking cigarettes” at an exceptional rate. All of these activities proceeded to contribute to the already repulsive scent on the bus. Eventually, I realized that all of the rules Barry set in place for the ride were broken. At that point, my friend had an epiphany: “Wait, we haven’t even gotten to the mountain yet, what the…”
The following events of the day followed along these lines: calling security on three people passed out in a corner of the lodge, sub-par hotdogs, stepping on Busch-lite cans, and partygoers casually “yaking” all over the floor. So, in conclusion, if any of you readers enjoy getting completely sloshed at 11:45 a.m. on a Saturday to the extent where your own survival is questionable, then Happy Titus to you!
Wow. This is perhaps the worst representation of Titus I’ve every heard. As an alum, it is sad to hear this and I know for a fact that most people who go to Titus, have the time of their lives. This event will forever be remembered as “better than Christmas”. Awful article, and I’m suprised The Hill News chose to publish such harsh words about an event that is undoubtedly loved by most of the school. Have a better attitude next year, Max, or don’t go.
Unforunately for Max, he decided to focus on the few shortcomings of an incredible weekend. Things not mentioned: skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, horse carriage rides, live music, and most importantly a coming together of nearly half the SLU student body for an entire weekend.
I remember Titus being a place where if you want to party go for it, if you didn’t, go for it. But what I really remember it being, is an event where you could find yourself within different groups and different people from all sides and avenues of campus. It didn’t matter who you were, because the quad was public and you could be there and be together. I remember looking out from the top of the quad and not being able to distinguish who knew who and all that “these are my friends” situations. It looked like everyone knew eachother and everyone was there because even without snow, the quad was a melting pot and you could dive in as much or as little as you pleased… to each their own. Take a bite or don’t, but don’t yuck on someone’s yums until you know how much effort, passion, and community goes into the dish. Catch my drift here?
But more importantly I want to clarify why as an alum and someone who looks to SLU as a place where she learned to be herself and love herself that what I do remember most is doing the Dub’s body run around the quad my junior and senior year. This run was one of the first times that I felt comfortable in my skin because instead of cat calls and heckling, I was met with cheers. This seemingly “small” piece of Titus was an important part of how I learned and maybe others learned to love their bodies. Interesting that this isn’t covered.
Also, wait till your older and a few years out and your wondering how did I get here? You may just find yourself wishing you were back on the quad listening to “Once in a Lifetime” bu the Talking Heads as Snow falls and hot dogs roast as you stand with 2000 of your best friends.
P.s. sorry for any misspellings or grammar issues as I’m on my phone on a plane back from seeing the same SLU alums that I met back at Titus years ago.
As an alum who is a few years out and thinks on SLU when the going gets tough, I remember Titus being a place where if you want to party go for it, if you didn’t, go for it. But what I really remember it being, is an event where you could find yourself within different groups and different people from all sides and avenues of campus. It didn’t matter who you were, because the quad was public and you could be there and be together. When I stood atop the quad and looked out over the mass of people, I couldn’t distinguish groups or “cliques” or “those are my friends over there” situations, I just remember seeing a lot of people being friends. I remember their being people who went all out and those who stopped in. Whatever the situation was or is, I think it is important to remember you can always take a bite, but don’t yuck on someone’s yums until you realize the passion, effort, and community that goes into the whole thing. Some bites will be a bit different and maybe even burnt but there always bites that taste so damn good. Those are the bites you remember when you’re 3 years out and have no clue what you’re doing. Those are the best bites. Catch my drift here? Take a bite but realize the whole dish and not just some burnt piece at the end.
I have also now read two very different “this is what Titus” is pieces and what both lack in differing ways is the coverage of all the pieces of Titus. Titus for me and many of my house members whether or not you were doing it all or a quick wave as you stopped into the rail jam, was the Dub’s body run. This run was one of the first times that I felt comfortable in my skin because instead of cat calls and heckling, I was met with cheers. Cheers from not just the friends who knew what the run meant for us but from those who saw us and was like “yeah, go for it!” So, it is interesting that this piece focuses in on a negative when there is a lot of positive. Can’t have one without the other… but you can explore both and provide and clear image of the whole.
Also, maybe this is my aging alumni self talking here but when you get older and you’re a few years out and you are living on a job board and the days are long and the quad isn’t right out your back door, and you keep in thinking the same thought over and over again…how did I get here? You will think about Titus and even if for a short moment, you will wish you were back on the quad or on that bus and that “Once In A Lifetime” could play as loud as possible, as snow does or does not fall on your head,and a hot dog roasts next to you, as you feel good about your body because you ran with your friends and loved yourself, all as you as gaze upon 100s of your best friends taking or not taking a bite of the sweet and delicious-but sometimes burnt a bit around the edges, dish that is Titus. Trust me, I’ve got some experience.
Max… be better.
From Tommy Costello ‘14
As an alum who is a few years out and thinks on SLU when the going gets tough, I remember Titus being a place where if you want to party go for it, if you didn’t, go for it. But what I really remember it being, is an event where you could find yourself within different groups and different people from all sides and avenues of campus. It didn’t matter who you were, because the quad was public and you could be there and be together. When I stood atop the quad and looked out over the mass of people, I couldn’t distinguish groups or “cliques” or “those are my friends over there” situations, I just a lot of people being friends. I remember their being people who went all out and those who stopped in. Whatever the situation was or is, I think it is important to remember you can always take a bite, but don’t yuck on someone’s yums until you realize the passion, effort, and community that goes into the whole thing. Some bites will be a bit different and maybe even burnt but there always bites that taste so damn good. Those are the bites you remember when you’re 3 years out and have no clue what you’re doing. Those are the best bites. Catch my drift here? Take a bite but realize the whole dish and not just some burnt piece at the end.
I have also now read two very different “this is what Titus” is pieces and what both lack in differing ways is the coverage of all the pieces of Titus. Titus for me and many of my house members whether or not you were doing it all or a quick wave as you stopped into the rail jam, was the Dub’s body run. This run was one of the first times that I felt comfortable in my skin because instead of cat calls and heckling, I was met with cheers. Cheers from not just the friends who knew what the run meant for us but from those who saw us and was like “yeah, go for it!” So, it is interesting that this piece focuses in on a negative when there is a lot of positive. Can’t have one without the other… but you can explore both and provide and clear image of the whole.
Also, maybe this is my aging alumni self talking here but when you get older and you’re a few years out and you are living on a job board and the days are long and the quad isn’t right out your back door, and you keep in thinking the same thought over and over again…how did I get here? You will think about Titus and even if for a short moment, you will wish you were back on the quad or on that bus and that “Once In A Lifetime” could play as loud as possible as snow does or does not fall on your head and a hot dog roasts next to you, all as you as gaze upon 100s of your best friends taking or not taking a bite of the sweet and delicious-but sometimes burnt a bit around the edges, Titus. Trust me, I’ve got some experience.