Fountain Day 2001

Fountain Day was originally a chance for the senior class to, at the last day of classes, celebrate by ending their day at 4:00 by all jumping into the fountain outside of Dillingham. Underclassmen could come see their friends jump; usually, faculty were on hand and it was a good-will event. This activity was even touted during campus tours. Unfortunately in 1999, the day got so out of hand (lots of alcohol poisoning, a reported rape, broken beer bottles littering the quads, general belligerence, etc) that the school moved it to the start of senior week, after the rest of the campus had left for the summer. It is not and will never be the same. However, this is what is left -- and you really need to make a lemon into lemonade. Here are photos from this year's Fountain Day, May 12, 2001 ... enjoy!

Fountain Day 2001: This is the pre-party. Let's set the scene: It is 55 degrees, cloudy, with occasional wind-swept drizzle. Had the Fountain Day been held on the last day of classes, it would have been sunny and 85. But there's no need for me to be resentful. Anyway, this is the campus quad and they had a tent set up with food (which they couldn't keep warm because it was so COLD! Yes, brainiacs, put the food outside...) and lots of inflatable-rides. I went on the "Adrenaline Rush" obstacle course and the Jumbo Slide. WOW. Ithaca College knows how to throw a party. :)

Jason and Rob making the best of the Fountain Day pre-party!

Yes, Mike is wearing a hat. Sooooo cold out!

Check it out... Christina, Jon, Patrick ... it is at this point that a lot of people started showing up, which made the lousy weather tolerable....

Just after 4:00, the senior class made its way from the Campus Quad to the Fountain. To those of you who haven't done this before, there is a steady roar that you can hear as you get outside ... dozens of groups of friends are all headed in the same direction ... those same people reach the edge of the fountain and JUMP! It has always been amazing to watch and be a part of; it is another thing altogether to actually be in the fountain.

Eric beat us to the jump, so Rob and I jumped in together -- totally soaked in water that was likely colder than the air.

There is a certain energy when you're in the fountain -- people you may never have met before come up and hug you; the echoing roar around the Dillingham Center adds to the excitement; cheesy or not, the feeling of an astonishing accomplishment is contagious

This is all well and good, but none of the underclassmen were allowed to come, and none of the faculty bothered to show up.

Check it out -- the Fountain nearing capacity! HA ... not really. I was actually impressed with the number of people who actually came out to jump. First, the day has lost most of its meaning, so many had planned to boycott it. Second, the weather was so miserable that I couldn't imagine most people wanting to jump. However, here is living proof that 1500 of us are absolute morons and actually wanted to get hypothermia. Hey, it was a good party ;)

My advice to future fountain jumpers: Make sure that there are no open wounds on your body. Absolutely have sandals on your feet. Don't swallow the water. Have a dry body-towel handy for when you get out, and a change of clothes is not a bad idea, especially if it is going to be chilly outside and you won't be able to dry off in the sun. Keep your school ID and license handy, you may want to put them in a zip-lock bag and put them either in a secure pocket in your swimming trunks or with someone who may have accompanied you (in my case, I used Jason since he is an RA and was allowed to stay on-campus).

...enjoy the entire day. As Doc Hoch once told me, "Fountain Day is the last chance you guys get to be kids... and the administration wants to take that away from you..." Don't let them -- :)


	Fountain Day 2001: This is the pre-party. Let's set the scene: It is 55 degrees, cloudy, with occasional wind-swept drizzle. Had the Fountain Day been held on the last day of classes, it would have been sunny and 85. But there's no need for me to be resentful. Anyway, this is the campus quad and they had a tent set up with food (which they couldn't keep warm because it was so COLD! Yes, brainiacs, put the food outside...) and lots of inflatable-rides. I went on the "Adrenaline Rush" obstacle course and the Jumbo Slide. WOW. Ithaca College knows how to throw a party. :)

	Jason and Rob making the best of the Fountain Day pre-party!

	Yes, Mike is wearing a hat. Sooooo cold out!

	Check it out... Christina, Jon, Patrick ... it is at this point that a lot of people started showing up, which made the lousy weather tolerable....

	Just after 4:00, the senior class made its way from the Campus Quad to the Fountain. To those of you who haven't done this before, there is a steady roar that you can hear as you get outside ... dozens of groups of friends are all headed in the same direction ... those same people reach the edge of the fountain and JUMP! It has always been amazing to watch and be a part of; it is another thing altogether to actually be in the fountain.

	Eric beat us to the jump, so Rob and I jumped in together -- totally soaked in water that was likely colder than the air.

	There is a certain energy when you're in the fountain -- people you may never have met before come up and hug you; the echoing roar around the Dillingham Center adds to the excitement; cheesy or not, the feeling of an astonishing accomplishment is contagious

	This is all well and good, but none of the underclassmen were allowed to come, and none of the faculty bothered to show up.

	Check it out -- the Fountain nearing capacity! HA ... not really. I was actually impressed with the number of people who actually came out to jump. First, the day has lost most of its meaning, so many had planned to boycott it. Second, the weather was so miserable that I couldn't imagine most people wanting to jump. However, here is living proof that 1500 of us are absolute morons and actually wanted to get hypothermia. Hey, it was a good party ;)

	My advice to future fountain jumpers: Make sure that there are no open wounds on your body. Absolutely have sandals on your feet. Don't swallow the water. Have a dry body-towel handy for when you get out, and a change of clothes is not a bad idea, especially if it is going to be chilly outside and you won't be able to dry off in the sun. Keep your school ID and license handy, you may want to put them in a zip-lock bag and put them either in a secure pocket in your swimming trunks or with someone who may have accompanied you (in my case, I used Jason since he is an RA and was allowed to stay on-campus).

	...enjoy the entire day. As Doc Hoch once told me, "Fountain Day is the last chance you guys get to be kids... and the administration wants to take that away from you..." Don't let them -- :)