Editorial

Is FebFest Happening?

By Editorial Staff

February 10, 2015

Hamilton has a precious handful of social traditions, but this year it feels like we are skipping one. Along with the Citrus Bowl and Class and Charter Day, FebFest provides the campus with another opportunity to be together, but this year the lack of promotion for it makes you wonder if it is actually happening at all. Only a serious look at the Jay Pharoah posters around campus mention the upcoming festivities, and other than that nothing on campus–or even on the School’s calendars¬–would prime you for the excitement of next week. Considering the inescapable coldness and darkness of winter at Hamilton, FebFest exists to provide some necessary activity and spirit to the campus when it needs it the most. It reenergizes the students once they have settled back into the mundaneness of another semester and gives the Campus Activities Board and Social Traditions a significant chance to bring impressive programming to Hamilton. Yet it seems that these committees have failed to come together to provide the necessary promotion for the events.

Past FebFests have always included comedians like Kate McKinnon and a performance from the Womyn’s Center, previously of “The Vagina Monologues” and now of their own performance piece called “Femme.” There are snowman-building contests, silly inflatables hanging around in the barn and the endlessly entertaining male beauty pageant, Mr. Hamilton. For the more daring and voyeuristic members of campus there is the Emerson Literary Society’s own Rocky Horror party–an event in and of itself. For a bright and enchanted week the school buzzes a little bit more than usual, and many different organizations on campus all come together to make it happen.

With less than half a week left before the start of events this coming Monday, it is concerning that so little has been done to alert and excite the campus. The value of the promotion further exacerbates the problem, because just the announcement alone can help brighten the mood. The promotion helps set the stage and everyone get excited; men prepare their talents, women prepare their performances¬¬ and everyone prepares their costumes. Proper notice is required. FebFest has become a social staple on the Hill in the last fifteen years, and we hope that the organizers work more consciously in the coming days and years to both execute and announce the exciting events in store.

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