Alumni Reunion -- December 1994
- Hall Government officers pulled a coup by procuring a list of names and addresses of Demarest alumni despite an uncooperative university office. The first-ever Demarest Reunion drew alumni from across the country to perform and enjoy a coffeehouse. Most interesting (to this observer, anyway) was the marked generation gap even in a large group of Demarites. During a typically energetic performance by A Halo Called Fred, one boomer alumnus was overheard to grumble, "Christ, what happened to 'Stairway to Heaven'?"
Bagels & Times
- Every Sunday morning, the Hall Government staff went out and purchased fresh hot bagels, butter, cream cheese, milk, orange juice, a Sunday New York Times, and a Sunday Star-Ledger (out of the HG coffers, of course). All these things, plus gourmet coffee graciously donated by another Demarite, were set up in the ML, and hungry pajama-clad dues-paid hint hint Hall Government members shuffled in to partake of brunch and the comics.
Bathrobe Brunch
- At least once a year, Demarites go to weekend brunch at Brower en masse in pajamas. Great fun, doesn't cost anything, and a chance to display that solidarity-in-weirdness for which Demarest is famous.
Brett Song Contest
- While this is not officially a Demarest tradition, Demarest won this event eight years in a row, from 1985-1992. The contest, which was sponsored by the Rutgers Glee Club, the Rutgers Alumni Association, and the Rutgers College Office of Residence Life, was named in honor of President Philip Milledoler Brett, whose wish was that Rutgers students learn part of Rutgers history through song. The contest was open to any Rutgers hall or organization which could scare up a quorum of at least ten participants. Entrants were judged in the categories of musical quality, group spirit, and group appearance. Demarest consistently beat the pants off our competitors, winning the $500 first prize each time, because we performed the songs in proper harmony, choreographed a routine to each song, and donned uniforms of black pants, white shirts, and red accessories.
- Rumor is that the Brett Song Contest was discontinued because Demarest just kept winning every year and no other group was willing to enter and compete. More likely, budget cuts are the culprit, but it behooves Demarest to get the real story from the Glee Club. Meanwhile, here are the lyrics to Rutgers songs which have been performed for the Brett Song Contest.
The Brotherhood of the D
- A highly secretive fraternity which seemed ultimately to be just a bunch of guys playing darts and talking. They did, however, advertise weekly topics of discussion in the Johnnies, which included "Red Flugbugs at Studied Times"; "Sweet and Pungent Beef or Fong Wong Gai -- Which Shall We Order?"; and "Why Do Men Have Nipples?"; but the usual advertised topic was "SEX!"
Cabaret
- Not to be confused with the theater on Douglass. Sometimes referred to as a "glorified coffeehouse," but actually much more. Once a year, usually in April, the Main Lounge is transformed into a thematic setting -- a 1950s malt shop, a 1920s speakeasy, the bottom of the sea. The Cabaret is a paid-admission event, draws a wider range of acts than the usual coffeehouse, and is a major fundraiser. Until the late 1980s, Cabaret included a real bar with beer and wine for sale.
Coffeehouses
- Several times a year, the Performing Arts section members organize an open forum where residents (or people they know, usually alumni or Honorary Demarites) can have an audience for their talents, whetever they be: "music, drama, comedy, poetry, juggling, dance, levitation, or speed-punk basket weaving," according to the official Demarest Handbooks. There have been several excellent acts which appeared at every coffeehouse of their respective eras.
Demarest Day
- At the very end of the year, between the last day of classes and the first day of finals, Hall Government sponsors an outdoor picnic and barbecue -- but this is no ordinary picnic and barbecue. Indeed, the front steps of Demarest are made into a stage for an outdoor coffeehouse. Demarest Day is a hall-wide celebration during which the dorm photograph is taken in front of the building to immoralize the year's residents.
Demi-Semi
- The Demarest Semiformal. Many other dorms have semiformal dances, but are they Demarest? No! The Demi-Semi is unique. It includes catered food. It is held in the incredible Main Lounge. And we play cooler music. The Demi-Semi is usually at the end of the Fall semester.
Kisses and Tucks
- A Valentine's time-of-year fundraiser where Demarites purchase the services of "tuckers" for themselves or their friends. The tuckers come to tuck people into bed and give them a bedtime story with Hershey's Kisses.
Pesach Seder
- Jason Wendroff took it upon himself to organize and lead a traditional Passover Seder in the Main Lounge, Jewish and Gentile equally welcome at the table.
Service Auction -- Friday, 1 March 1991
- A hugely successful fundraiser coordinated by ivy-Beth Bressen. Donations included painted portraits, hand-made Belgian chocolates, typed papers, deluxe massages, tarot readings, and a backrub to Nine Inch Nails. The money raised from the auction bought the Demarest sound system.
Women Underground
- Many years ago, there was a Women's Studies section of Demarest. In tribute to that section, ivy-Beth Bressen and Megan Miranda created an informal group to discuss women's issues over juice and cookies in the Main Lounge. Advertised topics included "Body Image and Self-Esteem"; "Emotions and Gender Stereotypes"; "Women, Abuse, and Harassment"; "Eroticism vs. Pornography"; "Same-Sex Friendships"; and "Women in Careers and Families and Stuff."
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