This year's subfreshman class has brought new perspectives, trends, and determination to the Uni community, as Dana Al-Qadi recently found out in her exploration of the third-floor hallway

Story & photos by Dana Al-Qadi
Gargoyle assistant editor
Posted Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, The OG, features

Life on the third floor with members of the Class of 2011.
(click to enlarge)

SENIOR JEREMY PILLOW stood with his arms folded behind two trash cans in front of the lounge in an attempt to ensure that no subbies would get through.

Pillow's menacing glare and bulging muscles would have been enough to keep anyone out, but not members of the Class of 2011, who proceeded to visit subbie counselor Sarah Dewhurst and voice their opinions about being barred from the lounge.

This streak of bold determination and daring has come to define the latest occupants of the third floor, who are already leaving impressions as a class throughout the school.

“They really want to be in that lounge,” Dewhurst says. “They keep asking, ‘Will we really get trashed if we go in there?' They even asked me to come up with a secret plan and get them inside as a group.”

It is difficult to recall a subbie class whose members did not entertain aspirations of situating themselves in the faded couches, but according to senior Amelia Breault, a subbie buddy coordinator, “They want it so badly, it's almost odd.”

According to subbie sources, the record for infiltrating the lounge currently goes to Jay Kesan, who managed to sit in the back corner undetected for two and a half minutes.

Right on time

Although the class may be planning a coup to overthrow Uni lounge protocol as we know it, when it comes to classroom punctuality, the new subbies are extremely serious.

Five to 10 minutes before the fifth-period bell has rung (fifth period is the subbie free period), they are already gathering their belongings and heading off to their sixth-period class. During interviews with the Gargoyle, they continuously checked their watches, uncomfortably shifting in their seats as the minutes ticked.

“They're so paranoid about being late to class,” says Dewhurst. “One subbie will begin to warn the others that there is one minute left, and they will all dash to class.”

A graphing we will go

Past subbie crazes have included GameBoy Colors stocked with Pokemon cartridges or Magic: The Gathering cards, but this year's subbies are bringing back a nerdy classic: the graphing calculator.

“Only the boys do that,” quips Ashley Huddson. “They cradle them like babies and even brought them to the dance.”

They play games, download data, and are attempting to figure out how to message one another from the calculators.

“Nearly every teacher has complained about them having their calculators out,” says Dewhurst.

A bright bunch

Annually, Uni accepts 60 subfreshman students, yet this year the admissions committee welcomed 64 students. [Note & update: Uni admitted 64 subbies, but 63 actually enrolled in the class. See the comments section below for more.]

“Every year the choices are difficult,” says Director/Principal Kassie Patton. “But this year, the decisions were extremely difficult. We have such a strong subbie class this year. They are all so great.”

The sentiment appears to echo with faculty, who describe the students as inquisitive, fun, and bright.

During subbie buddy meetings held during lunch on Sept. 25, the subbie buddies led groups of students in a discussion titled “Uni Culture.” The open discussion gave students the opportunity to express themselves and voice their opinions.

The participants seemed unanimous in their appreciation of their new freedoms, particularly the golden 50-minute free period. When asked whether any had attended clubs, nearly the entire room raised their hands. A few students had even begun planning an Agora Days class covering the many uses of duct tape.

“They're trying to be connected and really make Uni a part of their life,” explains Dewhurst. “It's quite impressive.”

Oh, those crazy subbies. (click to enlarge)

All work and no play …

However, subbies will always be subbies.

And this year is no different.

Just take P.E. teacher Rebecca “Merf” Murphy's complaint that it took her fitness class at least three minutes to get into alphabetical order. Or the subbie who dialed 911 from a pay phone during gym.

“He was just trying to see whether you could make the call without paying anything,” says one student.

On a given free period, subbies can be found crowded in the third-floor Windows lab, where it's difficult to find space to walk, much less an open computer. Although the subbies are not yet hooked on Facebook, they spend their time surfing arbitrary Web sites, playing games, and collecting tips for their calculators.

When not inside, a few have even dared to venture beyond Uni grounds.

“Subbies can go virtually anywhere on campus,” explains Ollie Goldbart. “At my old school, I would have probably had to wait until college before I had a free period.”

Although none of the subbies have taken a liking to Dance Dance Revolution, the craze of prior classes, particularly that of 2007, Dewhurst says they have gotten attached to card games such as poker and “BS” (Baloney Sandwich).

With four more colorful classmates than usual, a fixation with duct tape, and difficulties alphabetizing, there are only two things members of the Class of 2011 have on their minds: working hard and playing hard.

Or maybe three things.

They really, really want to be in that lounge.