2008 Coly Christmas Winners: 2W
Starting at exactly midnight on Monday, a dorm-wide eruption of frantic cutting, pasting, taping and painting will begin in Colenbrander Hall.
For 24 hours, each of Coly’s eight wings will receive total makeovers representing unique themes to usher in the 2009 Coly Christmas Bash on Dec. 7, from 9-11 p.m.
“Each wing will unite to try to make their theme a reality,” Coly RD Ryan Anderson said. “I’m excited to see this process.”
Although this year’s themes are sworn to secrecy until the unveiling of the event, some of Coly’s past themes have included tropical, western, ghetto, Heemstra, Dordt and a tribute to Bob Barker.
As the 17th annual Coly Christmas Bash, this event marks an enduring tradition and legacy for Coly residents.
“The Bash is a chance for the men of Coly to welcome the community into their living space,” Anderson said. “It’s a significant tradition that connects the guys to something bigger.”
Not only can students experience the Coly community up-close and personal, but they can also become enlightened by the creativity of Coly guys that often goes unnoticed.
“It is nice to see how creative a boy’s dorm like Coly can be,” junior RA Kory Jensen said. “You will be surprised about the creative, fun things that we come up with.”
But don’t let this disclosure of Coly’s creative, artsy side fool you into thinking Coly guys have gotten soft. With around 180 guys crammed into one place, the prevalence of testosterone is bound to instigate some hardcore man-on-man competition.
The Christmas Bash entails much more than just an opportunity to be creative and tap into hidden artistic talent; it also serves as the battleground for an eight-way rivalry between the wings.
“There is a competitive drive in Coly that gets guys really involved in the Bash,” Anderson said. “The hall is divided. Floors are divided. The only allegiance that matters is to your wing.”
Though the Christmas Bash calls for an “every wing for itself” philosophy, the dorm as a whole has a common objective for this event that extends far beyond simple friendly competition and entertainment. With an entry fee of $1, all proceeds will be used to purchase donkeys, chickens, goats and other animals for impoverished countries from the World Vision Gift Program.
As an opportunity to take a break from stressful studies, have fun with friends, learn about the Coly community, laugh out loud and make a difference by serving others in need, this event has the potential to have an impact on both the campus as well as across oceans. Since Coly is known as “The Big House,” it seems logical to say that the impact of this event will be nothing less than big.