Naked parties. Brown U. This is soooo 1990's.
New York Times, where ya been, baby?!
Yale, schmale. Brown invented "The Naked Party" back in the 80's, yeah, and it was already old news when I nervously went to Watermyn House (ahem, it was "Waterman" back then) with a printed invitation and a 30% chance of chickening out in 1993.
Watermyn House, a living cooperative near the Brown campus that houses about 15 students, throws a naked party every fall. Typically, about 100 people show up, most of them having received printed invitations (in 2004, the note featured a sketch of Adam and Eve being banished from Eden). Sheets are hung in front of the windows, and students deposit their clothes in garbage bags. Many don creative accessories: scarves, leg warmers, hats, belts, sashes, bunny ears. Last year, a diabetic student stripped everything off but his insulin pouch, which he carried around throughout the night.
“With this whole 20-something party culture, getting dressed to go out is such a big deal,” says Kate Horning, a senior who went to the party. “But that whole part of the evening is purposely absent. My friends who didn’t go were like, ‘Oh, my God, were people just staring at each other’s bodies all night?’ And I said, ‘No, people were just kind of chatting and playing pool and playing piano.’ ”
It's nice to know that nothing's changed since more than a decade ago. Those crazy kids.
I must say, I learned a lot about myself, social norms, and my friends that day. Perhaps too much. But ain't that why we go to college?
I would advocate the throwing of a similar party here in Korea – and who knows, maybe some crazy college kids here already have, although I seriously doubt it – but you know if any foreigners were involved, it'd be front-page news and a guaranteed media circus at your deportation proceedings.
Korea ain't ready for the love, baby. Now these are real parties. Foam, stoplight, and heaven/hell parties? Wish we could throw them in Korea, but I like my jobs and not being in the newspaper.
I'm so glad I went to school in the States.
God bless them crazy kids.