March 31, 2006

War of the Words campus discussion: Doo Dah Day

Doo Dah Day is a campuswide day of celebration intended to relieve pre-finals stress. This year, Doo Dah Day will be held on April 29. The Marcolian has opened discussion of Doo Dah Day’s celebration, importance, and possible future direction to Marietta students, faculty, and staff.

By JAKOB KANE LOUKAS
Freshman
jkl001@marietta.edu

Today, I had a test, a speech, a late paper, a quiz, two meetings, and a Marcolian article to write.  Tomorrow, I have an essay due, a report to research, a quiz, an exorbitant number of pages to read, and five hours of community service, and we’re not even close to finals week.  When you get that feeling that your right eye has ballooned up to the point of bursting, there is often nothing but more work ahead.
I could torment and ulcerate myself by worrying about the two speeches I have soon, the test just over the horizon, or the essay that I haven’t started, but I’ve decided to keep those things in my assignment book and out of my mind.  Instead, my eye deflates as my mind wanders.

I dream of a day I’ve yet to experience.  Something more legendary than prom, more sacred than St. Patrick’s Day, more fun than Halloween, and more interesting than the Fourth of July: the famous Doo Dah Day.  A day to celebrate youth, relax throbbing minds, and save intelligent decisions for your first final (you’re only allowed so many a semester).

Doo Dah Day is a chance to release pent up energy before we go back to a life with more stress than a 50-year-old corporate executive has.  At least the workaholic tax lawyer can afford Wendy’s.  I can’t, but I can look forward to Doo Dah Day.

By DEBBIE STODBERG
Office Coordinator, IT Department
debbie.stodberg@marietta.edu

I believe that Doo Dah Day should be renamed, “Drink till you do something stupid and pass out day.”  Seems to me it's just another excuse to get drunk out of your mind, do things that you would NEVER do when you are sober, and take pictures of your friends and yourself that you may regret someday.

How could it be made better?  Since students really need a clear mind before finals to study. Maybe it [Doo Dah Day] should be handled differently, eliminated, scheduled at a different time (after spring break) or replaced with other types of stress relief that don't involve so much alcohol.

I know this is college and drinking does occur, but shouldn't there be a limit, some boundaries? How many underage students are on the campus and participate? I would guess more than half of our student population are under 21. I'm sure CPS could tell you how many extra men they have to have on hand because of all the problems during Doo Dah Weekend.
Maybe it's time to rethink/redo/renew this tradition into something other than what it is presently.

By KATIE SCHWENDEMAN
Senior
kjs001@marietta.edu

Doo Dah Day. What is it? It could be described as a plethora of mass chaos, rowdy fun, and totally psyched students. Doo Dah Day happens every April right before finals week, and its purpose is to help students relax and have some fun. Even though I do not personally involve myself in the various shenanigans of Doo Dah Day (because I'm out of the country or something important like that), I think that it is a great idea. Students should be able to let loose for one day (or two) of the year on campus grounds and not get in trouble. Call it a sort of probation from the arduous chore of getting an education.

By AUDREY MIHALACKI
Sophomore
arm001@marietta.edu

I missed last year's Doo Dah Day because I was in the hospital all weekend. I think I'd like to spend this Doo Dah Day on campus. Somehow I have a feeling that I'll be doing homework just like every other weekend, but I still would rather be on campus for that. It just might be entertaining to listen to the sounds of drunken revelry while I figure out how to justify the part form of some Haydn or Mozart piece to Dr. Tadlock.  Or better yet, I could go out and educate people about arch rondo form--let’s see how that goes over?