Groups of seniors congregated on Low Steps Thursday to unofficially resurrect the “40s on 40” tradition, but public safety officials were also there for the party.
Students gathered on the steps and on the lawns around Low and Philosophy and Math buildings in the early afternoon, monitored by about 12 public safety officers, who were stationed on the steps at all four corners.
40s on 40 is a tradition in which seniors drink alcohol 40 days before graduation, typically gathering on Low steps. Administrators have taken control of the event for the past two years, requiring wristbands and a fenced-off area, as well as placing a cap on how much students can drink. Because of cost and negative feedback from past participants, the student councils decided this year not to continue the tradition, and instead are planning to host a barbecue. Rumors of an unofficial 40s on 40—presented to seniors in an email from the “Senior Underground”—encouraged seniors to bring their own alcohol to the steps Thursday.
According to sources close to the situation, administrators met with student councils prior to the unofficial 40s on 40 and warned them that the University would be upping security and that students caught drinking would face consequences.
One senior, who was granted anonymity to avoid consequences from the University, said, “Public safety told us, ‘if we get the idea shit’s going down, you’re all in trouble.’”
A group of around 40 to 50 students congregated at noon, but were soon after asked by public safety to vacate the area, which they did. But throughout the day and into the evening, seniors—recognizable with 2010 shirts—spent time on the lawns and steps, with public safety still in the area.
Many students kept their alcohol stashed away, because public safety reportedly asked anyone who displayed alcohol to leave. One senior, who also asked to remain anonymous, said that the groups of seniors “might have to go back to the dorms and repackage everything,” meaning pouring the alcohol into water bottles or other innocuous containers.
Other seniors were not intimidated. “They’ll have to pry my 40 from my cold, dead hands,” one said.
Another senior, not daunted by the prospect of punishment, said, “If the whole class just came out here, there’s nothing they could do about it. There’s what, a thousand of us, 20 of them?”
For some, the unofficial celebration was a relative success. Desiree Browne, CC ’10, said, “It hasn’t been that underground. It’s been fun and I think for the most part people have succeeded in getting drunk.” She added, “More than anything it was a beautiful day, people skipped class...a lot of people needed to decompress.”
But David Vega, CC ’10, says he wasn’t happy with the way the event was handled by administrators. “I think it’s sort of stupid that the administration wants to suppress those sorts of things in an immature way.”
The Office of Student Affairs said it wouldn’t be able to comment by press time, when reached Thursday afternoon.
Claire Stern and Leah Greenbaum contributed reporting.
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