TIP Lore

TIP Lore was a series of activities run in 2004 by Daag the RHL. Due to the eccentric, and by opinion either brilliant or ridiculous behavior of TIPsters, many inside jokes, traditions, legends, incidents, events, excursions, plans, names, happenings, and other matters confusing to outsiders occur at TIP. Collectively, this is known as TIP Lore.

TiP lore #1, July 20, 2004

-Talent show used to be at West

-(someone asks about the TiP raccoon) Mark: "Hey is this TiP raccoon or TiP lore??"

-The porn incident, East term 1 2003: on the last night, 3 4th years and 1 3rd year video-taped stuff in Bassett. One of them ran out to look for more people and closed the door suspiciously and an RC found them inside. At the time, the RC only knew the door was illegally closed. The tape was supposedly erased and some of the 4th years told Daag what really happened at the airport, which is why this is known. (They were banned from TIP) (Read the section about this incident in part 2) Edit by SQFreak: This incident is also rumored to have happened at West Term 2 2002.

-TIP Leadership? You pay to pick up garbage for a few weeks.

-Mark: the worst thing a RAG did to him was term 2 2003 when they touched him all the time (he says he hates this, however the whole thing was started by Spencer at term 1. His "bad experience" is false, like 92% of the stuff he says is), especially in his RAG picture where everybody leaned over to touch him (that's why he's making that weird face)

-As far as we know, there are NO TiP-ADF babies (or TiP babies or TiP-Young Writer babies for that matter)

-In 1997 (?) the restriction on interaction with other camps was relaxed when TiPsters were obsessed with an ADFer named Malik who was shot in the face and they would gather around to listen to stories about his life. Also, ADFers would go to TiP dances and hang out with TiPsters during free time (aka now mandatory fun time)

-By 1998 East term 1, erotic readings had been established (and ended with Frank Fiallo in 2003 term 2, as of now). That year, a 3rd year named Thomas would read classical literature in a very sensual style, which evolved into the erotic readings. During East Term II 2005, continued this tradition.

-TiP-Young Writer animosity: In 4th year, Sam and Daag would stack salt and pepper shakers at breakfast. One time, they got to 20 (you can see a picture at Sam's site, http://www.duke.edu/~sep10). Before they left the Union, some Young Writers (who were then rising 7th graders and younger, younger than any TiPster) came in and a loud crash was heard when they knocked it down. And so started the tensions between Young Writers and TiP.

-Young Writers used to be just a day camp. Young Writers staff hate TiP staff so much because they are former Young Writers (who were of course bullied by our current RC's back in the day). Mark: "So yummy!" Parker: "Sweet sweet junior high crunk!"

-There are no 5th years because there is enough of a difference between 2nd and 4th years already and 5th years would make it worse (like 1st-4th years) and plus there is precollege where you take college courses. It is 6 weeks long.

-AC is not coming to TiP, you jokers.

-Staff must be in their rooms by 2AM, or off-campus if they do not live on campus. Edit by SQFreak: If a staff member is off duty, he/she is permitted to sleep off-campus, but if he/she wishes to sleep on campus, that staff member must be in his or her room at 2AM.

-The ban on practical jokes supposedly comes from Dr. Kane, who loved to mess around with his TA's. The worst Tipster "practical joke" is supposedly when someone tried to electrocute his roomie.

-THE LLAMA: ONE version (which Sam says is bunk, and what Dr. Kane has denied) goes as follows. Dr. Kane filled out a supply request form (back in those days, instructors filled out forms to get supplies and gave it to the OSC who would accept or deny and give them the money for it). On his request form were: 7 candles, a pint of pig's blood, night vision goggles, a virgin, sacrificial altar, the Religions of the World instructor, and a llama (among other things). Of course the instructor felt insulted and the request was rejected. To make up for it, some staff members called up a petting zoo to rent a llama for a day. The plan was to keep it in a dorm room, but since that's not allowed, they got a pi񡴡 instead. Age estimates vary from 10 to 16 years (as of term 2 2004). They hid the pi񡴡 and put pictures of it all around campus. They threw it out a 3rd story window for some reason and it was confiscated by the RC's since you can't randomly throw things out the window. The TiPsters then broke into the RC's room and stole it back and it was passed from a 4th year to a 3rd year to show that the TiPsters could overcome the RC's.

-In 1998 term 2, the llama was offered as a prize at casino day and a 3rd year won it. The staff made a human circle around the llama to prevent any TiPsters from getting it, but the 4th years rushed the circle (to keep a 3rd year from getting it for one) and a big fight broke out. One of the RCs hit a kid in the process of keeping them from getting it and was fired. TA Angela Carpenter took over his duties and was both a TA and RC that term. She was also once a TA for Dr. Kane.

-In 2001, the llama was passed down to a girl (known as the llama mama) whose friend's dad was an orthopedic surgeon. That school year, the llama was put in a cast and took its current form. Peter: "The OSC kissed my penis!" (He says he put it on the star; the Duke president, Richard Broadhead, almost kissed the llama this year, 2004, but was discouraged by his advisors)

-As far as we know, there has not been a serious staff-student relationship.

-Macro/micro may be one of the classes that has always been offered at TiP, possibly also WPOW and Religions of the World. Matthew Belmonte did however teach at TiP from its creation in 1981 through 2001 and taught a variety of computer and possibly some math/science courses. Dr. Kane has also taught for a long time, since 1987 through present.

-In 1997, there was very little censorship in the termbook. It was ridiculously offensive and many TiP administration people were offended and so ended "old school TiP."

-The Pleasure Cow was repeately taken from the owner Caroline and was molessed by Ian, Zach, and Brent. Strangely, they only joined TIP so they could "play" with the cow and make fun of "the lepreachaun." The cow's name is Guadalupe. AKA Jiss.

-Once a kid tried to kill his roommate. His roomie always played pranks on him and he was very embarrassed by everything that happened. So he plugged in his stereo and cut the wire and attached it to the door handle. But whenever his roomie came in, there was always a short circuit and it never worked. He was caught because every time he did it, the whole floor's electricity went out.

-FACP: fire alarm control panel? It is a control room for each building in the tunnels

-The REAL TiP songs, in order: Violent Femmes - Blister in the Sun (played around sundown), Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl, Don McLean - American Pie, REM - It's the End of the World as We Know It, Rocky Horror Picture Show - Time Warp. Other TiP songs (which aren't "real") include: Jump, Little Children - Cathedrals (Mark found this song for 2002 when he was looking for new slow songs), Raffi - Bananaphone (in honor of Raffi Cordero, 1999-2003, who won a song dedicated to him), REM - Nightswimming (it was playyed 1996-1999 both terms, but only once in 1999 term 2. Supposedly this is a Davidson song and TiPsters come from there believing it is a TiP song), and U2 - With or Without You (since 1996, it has been played at least one dance during term 2). Some slideshow songs also often confused as TiP songs are James Taylor - Carolina In My Mind and Green Day - Good Riddance (Time of Your Life).

-4:08 - this was big in 1998 term 2. It was the perfect party time, a few minutes after class with enough time to go to your room and get some stuff to party with. At 4:08, the whole campus had a 1 minute party. They did random things, such as make a human pyramid or play duck, duck, goose. In 1998, it had spread around all of TiP (at East).

-Wink: there are 2 circles, one of guys and girls, with one less member of one sex in the inner ring. The girl sits in the lap of the guy (or vice versa), and the one guy who has no girl says, "I love all my neighbors who have _____," where you insert some characteristic, such as blond hair. Then all the girls who have blond hair try to be the first to kiss the guy on the cheek, but the guys have to try to stop their girls from escaping and kissing the guy.

-Honey's is a "super nasty diner."

-Quadfest: once upon a time, Aycock was used and you can just imagine the kinds of cheers that came from that. There was also once an RC (from Alspaugh?) whose name was Joe Cox and who was obsessed with recycling... In 1994 or so, one cheer went "Joe sucks. Aycock."

-Traditional Quadfest colors were: Bassett black (for revolting 4th years around 1996 to protest the separation of 4th years into other dorms) and red (1996-1997 and probably before), Pegram red? (it has also been blue a lot, housing 1st and 2nd year "Smurfs"), Jarvis (then Alspaugh) green, Brown tie-dye, and Giles purple. Brown has never been brown.

-In 1998, there were 5 dorms and Bassett was all 4th years. Dan McDermon came up with an idea to throw Quadfest. That year the color was inside out, and Mark painted his organs on himself. For the entrance, Muzak (elevator music-type) was blasted and everyone entered making animal noises (RC David was a big Animal Farm fan). Mark read the back of the Muzak album in the meantime while people chanted, "Orson Wells!" Mark also spat out the marshmallows during Chubby Bunny in helping throw Quadfest. Before long, everyone started trying to throw Quadfest and it was a big mess.

-In 2003 term 2, Mark let the 4th years practice DDR first. Quadfest is NOT fixed however. As long as Sam has been an RC in Bassett, it has never lost (it has not always been just 4th years as well). Mark: "Bassett is just better like that." Edit by nsainngin86: In 2003 term 1, the DDRers in Bassett were allowed to practice DDR as well. Also, our RAG had Casino Night in the bag. Seth started up a craps table and we raked in much of our millions through that. Also, blackjack and poker had dealers that escalated odds so that at one point, someone won an amount of money with 27 zeroes. We also had a source on the inside tell us who would win the race that the RAs do, thus winning Casino Night.

-TiP is NOT dying. People were probably like, "Man this was better last week, TiP is dying!" the first term in 1981.

TiP Lore: Fact or Fiction, Part II, July 27, 2004

-"4 feet on the floor" became a rule in 1982 because of a Sean L's "festivities" the 1st year of TIP

-According to Mark, in 1995 term 1 when he was in Jarvis, they had to eat in the smelly computer lab in Gilbert-Addoms

-Mark: 1995 term 1, 1996-1997 term 2, 1998 term 1, precollege 1999

-Sam, Daag: 1996-1998 term 1

-Stephen Koren: 1998-2001 term 2

-There has only been one other llama as far as we know, the ninja llama from the last dance at term 2 2003. The theme was pirates vs. ninjas and they had the ninja llama and the real llama battle behind a stage towards the end of the dance. The ninja llama was damaged and lost amid the confusion, but Peter Sloan somehow stole it and took it home, redecorating and bringing it back for term 2 2004. It was stolen by 3rd years in 2004 and written over. It is not a tradition and it is the sole property of Peter Sloan (which should not have been vandalized by anyone!)

-In 2001 and 2002, the boundaries were from Baldwin to the other side of the circle quad, and during the day, it was from the bus stop to the other side of the circle quad.

-A TIPster was almost abducted once at West and was tied up with his own shoelace in a dorm, probably between 2002-2003 (any confirmations?). This is why full names are no longer allowed on door signs because strangers could pretend to know you. (Though Laura reminds me that her RAG had full names and city on their door signs...) Edit by SQFreak: This is the story told to staff at training, so I'd imagine it's true.

-Bathrooms at Duke are locked because people hide in the bathrooms and assault people. EDIT: The girl's bathroom in third floor Alspaugh was always unlocked. (East II, 2008)

-TIP used to start on a Wednesday sometimes, but people who arrived on Wednesdays were usually college credit students.

-Color-coded shoelaces were introduced in 2002 because of 4th year privileges. Before that, you had a huge variety of designs to choose from. Edit by SQFreak: 1) I thought 4th Year Privileges started in 2001. 2) At West in the year immediately prior to the start of 4th Year Privileges, the Bryan Center was in bounds at all times and there was only one color shoelace.

-THE LLAMA: according to another version of the origins, the supply request form was done by the Religions of the World teacher. Requested items included 50 goggles, a virgin, a pint of pig's blood, a sacrificial altar, and the Dalai Lama (At this point, Peter throws his sandal at Sam and he licks it). It was rejected and so he wrote a 3 page article on how his freedom of religion had been violated. As a substitute for the Dalai Lama, some other instructors tried to bring an actual llama to TiP, but since they couldn't, they took pictures instead and put them up all over campus. TIPsters, as always, decided it was cool to be followers, and started to obsess over the llama and decided to buy a pi񡴡. Pi񡴡s were popular then because of Monty Python and so they probably just went to 9th street and bought one.

-As of 1997, the llama was not pronounced the Spanish way with a "y" sound, but rather the English "lama" pronounciation

-In 1998, there was a riot when it was one of the auction items for casino night. The RC's had it and made a barrier. A 3rd year ended up buying it and the 4th years rushed the RC's to try to get it back.

-Miriam Goldberg became llama mama as a 2nd year in 2000. In 2001, there was a large 4th year llama-hating group. There was also unfortunately a group of RC's who hated it as well, and the 4th years somehow got hold of it with help from RA Adam Laughton. At the talent show, they had a skit where they covered the llama in a sheet and did a parody of the Godfather and beheaded it at the end. At the end, they yelled out for 2nd years to raise their hands and threw it out into the audience. The following school year, it was cast and repainted. In 2002, Lauren Edelman brought the llama back (not Miriam, she hadn't passed it down to anyone). Since it hadn't been passed down and Miriam didn't have it, there was a controversy and various people claimed it was theirs, like this one kid who said the 4th years meant to give it to him after the skit the previous year. Sam finally ruled that whoever brought back the llama at the beginning of the term owns it, so Lauren became the new llama mama. Lauren and Miriam were 4-4-4 year friends. Miriam was also the last 4-4-4 year EVER, in that she was the last one to leave the campus. The 2002 East term 2 termbook also has a page with the 10 last year 4-4-4 years. (italicized sections in this part were not actually said during TiP lore)

-Once cross-dressing became popular on WaSW, it became normal to shave legs and such for Miss TiP. Miss TiP was cancelled as an officially sponsored event after TiP sponsors saw pictures in the 1997 term 1 termbook. Lip sync was the official replacement, but Miss TiP was still there term 2 as an unofficial event. In 1999 term 2, the winners were a Thomas and someone else... (names? lol). It also happened once in 2001 term 1 as part of a Quadfest skit by the 4th years.

-Wear-a-Skirt Wednesday: By 1998, there was full-fledged cross-dressing and accessorizing. Thomas Kinsburg wore makeup the last Wednesday of his term (1 or 2?). 1997 saw the first widespread female cross-dressing because of Sarah Nobles day. This happened to a lesser extent the following year, but in 1999 people were back to all-out cross-dressing, and by 2001, girls were doing all-out cross-dressing as well.

-As early as 1984, guys randomly wore skirts but not as any organized group/tradition. Young Writers will sometimes claim WaSW was their tradition first (but as Daag says, SAT is short for Saturday morning cartoon to them)

-When Mark was a first year in Psychology in Literature (are you sure it's not philosophy?), there was a guy who wore Birkenstocks and flicked them into a garbage can at Alspaugh all the way from Lilly Library.

-Sam used to make styrofoam art. One of his crowning achievements was one of Marilyn Monroe (he says that he received applause from the entire dining hall).

-In 1998, the TiP-Young Writers animosity began when Sam and Daag stacked 20 salt shakers. When they left, the Young Writers scuttled over to the table, sksksksk. Then you heard aaaaaahhhhh, booooommm. Even the bottom shaker fell! (Exact sound effects they used in telling the story) Occasionally, Young Writer staff will fight with TiPsters (not staff, mind you), for example RANCE!! in Sam's RAG. Mark says the Young Writers were like ants and says something about this being his bad experience? (Please enlighten)

-Ben Duke is a relatively new addition to East Campus, appearing in around 2000. In the past, the staff vs. student ultimate game used to be played on the statue quad.

-TiP reached its height of inappropriateness around 1996-1997. In 1998, several members of Bronwyn's RAG went to a 9th street tattoo parlor one night during activity and allegedly got piercings (Abby who was in that RAG that year says there were maybe 5 or 6 new holes at the end of the term). They were followed by Rita's RAG.

-YATTA! came out around February of 2001 from a Monty Python-like group called Happatai. It was first played at the first dance at term 2 2003 when it was requested on practically every sheet. When it started playing, everyone magically knew the dance and started doing it. Edit by SQFreak: Matthew, the OSC at Davidson 2005 as well as East 2004, introduced the song to Davidson. When I demonstrated the dance from the balcony, the TIPsters became scared and didn't want the song played again. Instead, they prefer "Dragostea Din Tei" by O-Zone.

-Bananaphone is Raffi's song. He won a song at the dance and he chose Bananaphone since it is by a guy also named Raffi. He also had one of his e-mails answered by Strongbad!

-Mark's world history teacher's brother-in-law is a member of Jump (formerly Jump, Little Children), the band that did Cathedrals. (which guy is it?)

-Mark, "Christian," was a wannabe RC/Goth, like the characters in Jack Kerouac's On the Road. He wore clip-on sunglasses and his girlfriend had a dog collar and leash. He led her around on the leash, and when the TA's yelled at him for being sexist, they just traded places and Mark walked around on a dog collar and leash. Mark: "But Sam's girlfriend was a duck!"

-Stuff about ultimate's origins (you can find it online)... Peter: "Sam owns the OSC!"

-4:08 - in 1997 term 2, a guy lost his watch and so he painted a watch on his arm and made the time 4:08. In 1998, they once did a pantomime of Julius Caesar's assassination during the one-minute party. Other things have included doing a merry-go-round and Ring Around the Rosie. In 2000, they would clap and yell, "What time? 4:08!"

-Mark: Everyone was friends. There were cliques, except not.

-The porn movie incident at East term 1 2003 was probably exaggerated. Instead, there were about 8 kids who were watching porn on Mark's computer or something, but there was this one kid they didn't like in Mark's RAG. He kept telling an RC who was doing an activity in Bassett commons, but the RC didn't believe him, but eventually checked it out and lo and behold. The kid who told on them was in Java (if you were interested...)f. The kids who were kicked out probably started exaggerating watching with making porn. Edit by nsainngin86: I escaped this incident by 2 minutes. Real story is that we were watching "The Babysitter" in Martin's room because he had a laptop, and could download porn. We found the acting hilarious and showed it to people periodically. Spencer and I left to play hall frisbee and saw Mark go in 2 minutes later. Turns out Marc, a guy in our RAG, ratted out the group cuz he hated Seth, his roommate. Guy with porn got kicked out, but everyone else could only not give a speech at talent show. The one in JAVA, Martin, was not the rat, he was the one kicked out.

-In 1998, you had to sign up for activities, but you could just do DQ (dorm quad). DQTRB is a very recent invention, by the way, possibly even made up at term 2 2004.

-Activities were made mandatory in 2000. In 2000-2002, they had "trips and tournaments" the first Saturday which were afternoon trips off-campus or a tournament on campus. Trips included things such as ice skating, bowling, the science museum, etc, and tournaments such as chess, soccer, pool, cards, reading. In 2001 term 1, the ultimate game was part of trips and tournaments. The loss of the 15 passenger vans brought the activity to an end. Casino night was on Sunday night.

-Students have won the staff vs. student ultimate game in 2001 both terms and 2003 term 2.

-In 1998 term 1, Dan McDermon of Bassett first started throwing Quadfest. Bassett's color was inside-out that year, but the 4th years dressed in black to protest the separation of 4th years in different dorms. Dorms also used to be by year, Alspaugh, Giles, Aycock, and Brown.

-There was a TiPster who was an ordained reverend, and during jello snarfle, he grabbed the jello and started reciting scripture. Mark played along and threw the jello and yelled CHUBBY BUNNY! During Day at TiP, Bassett simply slept through the day. The entrance was with Muzak as mentioned earlier. Chappy and RJ did Wolverine. They stood in the circle quad, sang, and fell down. For dorm blob, Bassett had about 50 people get in a giant circle and do the hokey pokey. Their cheer was in French. In 1999 term 2, Bassett introduced everyone in the dorm by name and a little fact.

-Once a roommate was locked in a closet and in 2002 pranks were completely outlawed. EDIT: I'm pretty sure this is actually about the time I got duct taped to a chair in an elaborate revenge scheme by my roommate in West I 2002, which was a Whole Thing™ that honestly I think a couple of different rumors I've seen on a couple of pages here stem from.

-TiP legend JOW (in Mark's RAG), Buggy, and Stephen Sikes - this not mentioned in TiP lore went off-campus to the Green Room to play pool and passed through the really bad part of Durham instead of going to an activity. Much to their dismay, some off-duty TA's (including Katie Mitchell of Chris Duhon fame) were also there but were kind of out of it and later reported them, so they got kicked out. According to Mark, "Jow had an honor guard drive him to the airport and walk him through security." Edit by nsainngin86: It wasn't Stephen Sikes, but another 4th year whose name I cannot recall. Sikes was in my IR class and stayed the whole way through. It wasn't actually "the really bad part of Durham." I went to school a block away from the Green Room. It was basically a half mile down Broad St from Ben and Jerry's. They just broke boundaries during "mandatory fun." The kid's name was actually Sam something (I don't have my termbook with me); both Buggy and Sam were in my RAG and I remember watching them both get picked up. Also, it was Sam and Buggy's second time visiting the Green Room; they first visited it during one of the first free times after classes where 4th years could go to 9th Street. Accompanied by myself and Stephen, we asked around on 9th Street where we could find a pool stick since there was a pool table and pool balls in Brown, but no pool stick (on a sidenote, I am attending Duke for undergrad and for freshman year, I was put in the exact same room that I housed in for my 4th year at TiP). After going to Kerr Drug (which is no longer there), we were told to go to the Green Room. After a little debate, we finally agreed to go there. After initially passing it and ending up at the NC School of Math and Science, we backtracked and found the pool hall. Once there, we asked the man behind the counter how much the pool sticks were. Seeing them at around $90 (or some other amount that just wasn't within our budget), we asked the man if he had any cheaper ones or perhaps some old ones in the back that he wasn't using anymore that we could buy cheap. After asking us if we went to Duke (I believe he meant as students and not as campers), he proceeded to ask if it was for an experiment. Thinking this was a good enough excuse, we agreed and he said he would give us one from one of the tables. Stephen then asked the man if he could give us two sticks--the man replied "how 'bout I give you one". We returned victorious and had one of the only pool sticks on campus as exclusive property of our RAG. At the end of the term, those involved signed the pool stick and gave it to Aaron, our RA.

-One of Daag's memorable stories as a staff member is when a pizza delivery guy at Domino's got out of his car and goes up to a guy and girl talking. Then all of a sudden he throws the pizza at the guy.

-In 2002, a Domino's guy was fired and he came to campus with a car full of pizza and offered large pizzas for $5.

-Once a guy on a motorcycle drove onto the quad wearing Japanese clothes and started doing stuff with a katana (a Japanese sword). This was on the Giles quad before the ultimate game, so Daag just calmly went up to him and told him the quad was reserved and he left.

-In 2002 term 1, Katie Mitchell, a TA who went to Duke, got her boyfriend to play on the staff. She also asked if she could bring "the guys." The only thing is that her boyfriend was Chris Duhon and the guys were the Duke basketball team (Duhon was the only one who showed up)

-Are there hookers at the bus stop (Hank...)? No, they're ADFers.

-Wink was once even an activity and RC's joined in, like Mark (is that right?!).

-Some of Daag's favorite TiP memories: When Duhon jumped like 12 feet in the air during the ultimate game. In 1996, the Atlanta Olympic torch relay went by East Campus and he saw Dennis Rodman running with it (Dennis Rodman was not REALLY in the torch relay, but it did go by East). Throwing Quadfest.

These transcripts have been edited for accuracy.

sqfreak, who are you? are you in the lj tip communities and/or a former tipster? SQFreak says: See User:SQFreak. I'm a former TIPster and a current RC at Davidson. @SQFreak... are you Donald Moratz