Baltimore

From RealCTY
Revision as of 18:49, 2 January 2012 by Arlex.thirteen (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Baltimore
Baltimore.jpg
The main "bell tower" of Gilman Hall.
Site Information
CollegeJohns Hopkins University
LocationBaltimore, Maryland
DatesSession 1: June 25 - July 14 | Session 2: July 16 - Aug 4
Years of OperationEarly 1990s?-1995 | 2001-present
Avg. Number of Students260
Courses Offered
HumanitiesBeyond the Binary: A Cultural History of Gender | Global Politics: Human Rights and Justice | Human Nature and Technology | Laws and Orders: Legal Systems Around the World | Persuasion and Propaganda | Playing God: The Ethics of Human Subjects Research |
WritingYou Will Be Offended: Satire, Comedy, and Public Discourse |
Math and Computer ScienceFundamentals of Microeconomics | The Mathematics of Competitive Behavior | Topology |
ScienceAstrophysics | Advanced Topics in Physics: Special Relativity | Cryptology | Epidemiology | Investigations in Engineering | The Global Environment |
Canon
High Holy CanonAmerican Pie | Stairway to Heaven | Mr. Brightside | Iris
High CanonDon't Stop Believing | Sandstorm | Cha Cha Slide | Come On Eileen | Forever Young | Tunak Tunak Tun
Middle CanonWobble | Bohemian Rhapsody | For baltimore | Cotton Eye Joe | Istanbul (Not Constantinople) | I'll Make a Man out of You | Time Warp | Stacey's Mom | Bad Romance | Can't Hold Us | Sweet Caroline | Blister In the Sun |
Lower CanonNightswimming | How far we've come | Every Time We Touch | Fireflies | Anna Sun | Closing time | Somewhere only we know | Numa Numa | Satisfaction | Heartless or the hills | Long live | Pokémon Theme Song
Site Specifics
Position-holdersEmpress and Emperor | Prince and Princess of the Blood | Games God and/or Goddess | Rave Monarch
See The Essential CTY for cross-site articles.
This box: view • talk • edit

The Baltimore site uses the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University. Although it houses the main administration for CTY, it was not made into an actual site until relatively recently. It is also considered in some belief to be the strictest site, which is not true. It isn't stricter than any other sites. It has few persistent traditions, due to it being a new site. Baltimore is infamous among CTYers at other sites for passing down controversial new rules, though this is mostly because it houses CTY Administration, and in reality has little to do with the site itself.

Site and Campus Overview

The Homewood campus, where CTY is hosted, is 20 minutes from Baltimore/Washington International Airport and 10 minutes south of Penn Station.

While the campus is relatively small, CTY only uses the northern half of it. This consists of the two dorm buildings, a number of grassy areas, somewhat nearby classroom buildings (usually within a 10-minute walk), and other buildings and quads in the southern third that are used only rarely (i.e. talent show, dances, opening and closing ceremonies, and casino night). During meet market/ other free time, students are to be in either the quad, their dorms, or the dining hall. Anywhere beyond the quad is known as the Twilight Zone.

There is a large number of trees, benches, scenic walkways, and squirrels that crave muffins.

Classes are held in a number of different buildings, as opposed to all sharing one or two buildings. However, almost all science classes are held in the Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy, and most Humanities classes are held in Dunning Hall, directly across the Gentle Slope from AMR I.

A map of the campus can be found at http://webapps.jhu.edu/jhuniverse/information_about_hopkins/visitor_information/how_to_get_here/homewood_campus/pdf/campus_map_0907.pdf

Dorms

The girls' and boys' dorm buildings are known as AMR I and AMR II, respectively. These two dorm buildings are perpendicular and adjacent to each other, on the Northeastern corner of the campus (and of the Gentle Slope). They are "C"-shaped, and contain a courtyard. Three sides are part of the building, while the fourth side is a gate and turnstile. Both quads have relatively tight security, and are guarded at all times. To enter either dorm building, one must first pass through a guarded turnstile which is activated by an RFID card. However, it is possible to enter either building (after going through the turnstile) without using a keycard by going through a roundabout pathway, although the keycard is required to enter halls from the courtyard. There is a labryinth of tunnels and hallways underneath the two buildings (and the rest of the campus) and a secret passageway between the two. More information about the buildings can be found at Baltimore/places

All dorm rooms have one air conditioner (although, on rare occasions, it is dysfunctional). All dorms have two desks (with built-in lamps), two windows, two chairs, two wastebaskets, two recycling bins, and no phone. There are two beds with adjustable heights. It is advisable to bring a power strip, as power outlets are inconveniently placed. All dorms have either rugs or tiles.

Dorms are usually doubles, although sometimes people are lucky/unlucky enough to get a single or a triple. The singles may come with fireplaces, although it is not advisable that one tries to light a fire. RAs in corner dorms may have huge rooms, and they always have singles.

The doors of halls are always decorated by RAs. These may range from printed images or drawings to xkcd comics. Halls are physically separated by either stairwell passages or doorway frames.

Bathrooms vary in quality and size depending on location. They range in the number of stalls, sinks, and showers. A hall may share a bathroom with another hall, but this depends on the location of the two. In 2011, the girls were not in AMR I due to construction. Instead, they were housed in Buildings A and B right above the Fresh Fruits Cafe, and were living in suites.

During 2011, the boy dorms stayed in AMRII. Due to unpredicted circumstances, the girls dorms changed from AMRI to the dorms above the dining hall. These new dorms had suites and one bathroom per suite. Unfortunately, the bathrooms are VERY dirty. There are a lot of centipedes, especially in the bathroom at 310. They just crawl out of nowhere and hide in the showers. They're disgusting and probably poisonous.

Food

The entrance to the Fresh Foods Cafe

The food is excellent or bad, depending on one's point of view. There is always a sandwich bar and a salad bar. During lunch, there is always some cooked potato product (usually fries), pasta, a few types of pizza, hamburgers, cake or other sugary desserts, fruits, and a vegan dish. The macaroni and cheese is sometimes good. The scrambled eggs are not real scrambled eggs, but rather egg powder mixed with milk. Breakfast usually has good omelets cooked on the spot (which results in lines of at least 10 people long), fresh fruit, meat products, potato products, sausages/pancakes, cereals, breads, bagels, and sugary pastries. There's also a person who serves ice cream during lunch and dinner. There is a large assortment of drinks available--various sodas, milk, soymilk, coffee, tea, hot water, and juices. There is also stuff for lactose intolerant people in a special little fridge. Vegetarian and kosher meals are available. Also, the fries are orgasmic. After you're done eating, you put your plate on a conveyer belt beside the pop machine. Food can get repetitive, especially for CTYers staying for six weeks. Service is generally very friendly in the dining halls- there is one especially kind lunch lady named Montoya Jackson. She collects Trollies.

All CTYers share the same cafeteria (Fresh Foods Cafe)--at lunch time, all CTYers walk back with their class to the cafeteria. One issue with the cafeteria is that lines tend to be long. The lunch schedule is staggered into 3 groups (11:40, 12:00, and 12:20) and everyone has an hour for lunch. The long-line problem is compounded by the fact that the cafeteria is shared with other programs on the campus--usually Precollege, although LeadAmerica shared the cafeteria in 07 lacrosse girls shared in 08 and lacrosse guys and volleyball girls shared in 10. CTYers often avoid long lines by first taking food that is in short lines, then coming back for more, or having dessert first.


Off-Campus Locations

The exterior of the Barnes and Nobles.
The interior of the Barnes and Nobles.

Each weekend, and on some activity days, CTYers can go off-campus on a short walk with their hall or Activity group into the local town. In addition, on Saturdays, RA groups may go into the Inner Harbor. Note: All of these locations can be found through Google Maps.

  • Barnes and Nobles: This is the bookstore. There are regular activities to visit the bookstore, which is connected to a Starbuck's. All textbooks are purchased here on the first day at ridiculously high prices. The bookstore is where all the JHU sweatshirts and other attire are sold.
  • Chipotle: A burrito and taco restaurant. Somewhat expensive.
  • Tamber's: An Indian food and diner food restaurant. This is somewhat far away, but was an auction prize. Note: auctions did not take place 11.2.
  • Coldstone: ice cream.
  • Dominion Ice Cream: This has both regular ice cream and specialty ice cream (e.g. vegetable ice cream). Very delicious. Students were not allowed to go there after 9.2 for some reason.
  • Subway: This is located across the street from the Barnes and Nobles, but again, starting from 10.1 no one ever went there.
  • Niwana: This is right across the street from the campus, near the Beach. It has expensive Japanese and Korean food. It was an auction prize in the years of the auction.
  • Paper Moon: An eclectic restarant with lots of knicknacks decorating every wall. The best chocolate cakes (order The Dark Side of the Moon) and friendly service. Bring a camera; take lots of photos, and make sure you go to the bathroom to see the dolls on the toilet. Not accessible to students in 10-present.
  • There are several grocery stores. RAs know where they are. (Advice: First day, go to Eddie's Market or University Store to buy junk food. Directions: Keep on walking down past B&N, turn right at the first traffic light and look for the stores).
  • Cloud 9: A clothing shop; bans CTY students from going due to past "bad experiences".
  • Inner Harbor: There are a number of stores and sites of interest here, including a Barnes and Nobles, Forever 21, Wet Seal, etc. and a number of malls and restaurants and other food vendors, and some museums (especially the National Aquarium in Baltimore). Starting from 10.1, students were not allowed to go to the inner harbor because it was too dangerous
  • The Baltimore Museum of Art: This museum is almost on campus, and is a short walk away. Admission is free; the exhibits are worth a look.
  • The Rotunda: A tiny movie theater that usually plays only two movies. Most of the stores are closed. The concessions are insanely expensive.

However, in 11.2, as a result of the Andrea Administration, off-campus trips were limited to going to the Movie Theatre, Barnes and Nobles, Coldstone, and the University Market. In the previous year, shopping trips to Hampden were permitted. But this year, extremely early notice was required for that to happen. In any case, you can't ask your RA to bring you boutique shopping there a week ahead. According to an RA, you have to give "at least 2 weeks of prior notice so that the office can approve the activity."

Student Life

While JHU follows the same basic feel of campus life at any CTY site, its environment varies among different years.

Activities

Each weekday has two activity periods. Depending on the session, activities are organized differently. Often, many activities are available for one day, while other activities are available for one-week-blocks. Students are sometimes allowed to switch into or out of activities.

There are also weekend activities. In the past, these have included Casino Night (which always occurs), Music Night, Movie/Red-Carpet Affair, the "Olympics", a Medieval Fair, and the Talent Show.

Strictness

While it's false that the RAs are generally very strict, SRAs may be strict. Hwoever, they don't really come out much. In 07.2, flashlights and sleepovers were banned, although with a bit of sneaking around and hiding you could manage to get into each others' rooms. The ban against sleepovers has been removed as of 08.1. Neighboring dorm rooms could also tap messages with Morse Code through the wall. Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin, and Ibuprofen were all confiscated by RA's, but it's handy to stash a few in your pillow or wardrobe just in case. However, there is a vending machine with such medications. In 11.1, the only strict person on site was the site director, who was never seen. In 11.2 Site Director and Counselor kicked off 3 people on the second day and put many more people on probation during the days after. Let it be know that this is WAR. User:Digiflex This year Scheduled Presence was implemented. it involved RA's standing/sitting at set locations. No one was allowed outside when there wasn't Scheduled Presence without the accompaniment of a staff member. Going down to do your laundry during the weekends was not allowed unless there was Scheduled Presence. Neither was going past the turnstiles one minute before 7:30 to go to breakfast. The Academic Counselor, Gabby Coranza, was a key issue. 2011 was Gabby's first year working for CTY and on the first day, she had already made herself unpopular. She tried to interfere with student life, as perhaps she thought that a tight-knit community meant a totally closed and exclusive group. She asked prying questions, like whether two sisters involved others in their fights, often provoking outraged responses.

Cell phones are technically not allowed outside of dorms, but most of the staff does not enforce this rule. Generally, it only matters if they are used in class.

Dances

Dances have specific themes (e.g. The 80's, Beach Party, Black-and-White, Rubik's cube, Summer Semi-Formal, Jungle Safari, Hollywood, etc.). However, this usually does not have a significant effect on the music played (one exception was The 80's Dance, in which a larger amount of older songs was played). Music played by the dances tends to be popular music. The dances always take place in the Glass Pavilion. Students should bring a polo shirt (or anything more formal), as more than half the camp somewhat dresses up. The last dance is usually formal. Here, the CTY Prince and Princess (CTYers) are announced, along with the CTY King and Queen (RAs).

In 09.1, "Stairway to Heaven" was not played. This is because almost all RAs were new and had not been former CTYers.

Rules about dances are enforced, but sometimes not strictly. At 08.1 and 08.2, there was grinding at impromptu dances, but people would crowd around them to make them hard to detect. However, in 09.1, couples were watched/monitored by RAs.

In 09.2, an Afterdance was started by a group of Lancaster squirrels.

In 10.1, Young Forever and Birdhouse In Your Soul were played in addition to American Pie and Stairway to Heaven at the last dance. Both American Pie and Stairway to heaven were played at all 3 dances although Stairway to Heaven was played as the 3rd or 4th to last song at the first dance. The Afterdance was not continued from the previous year.

In 10.2, Young Forever, American Pie and Stairway to Heaven were played at all the dances, thus making Forever Young a new tradition for Baltimore. Afterdances were continued by Empress of Passionfruit Trinity (her name, not an affiliation with Lancaster's Trinity) and a fifth of the students attended. As such, the Empress and the newly established JHU Traditions Committee (see below) formalized traditions such as BLAMMO, Love-Tape Day, and left the song Tunak-Tunak-Tun open for possible cannonization in the coming year.

In 11.1, Young Forever, American Pie and Stairway to Heaven were played at all the dances. There was some grinding, but the RAs didn't notice.

In 11.2, Young Forever, American Pie and Stairway to Heaven were played at all dances. However there was a surprising lack of canon compared to last year's dance. The only canon that were played at the dances were Young Forever, American Pie, Stairway to Heaven, and Everytime We Touch. Much dance music was played, like Cali Swag District's Teach Me How to Dougie, Jerk, and L.M.F.A.O's Party Rock Anthem. Due to the abnormal amount of couples, RAs were assigned couples to watch, but there was grinding, kissing, and other activities happening regardless. Note to couples: anything more than a kiss should be done in the corner of the movie theater downstairs from the Glass Pavilion or the broom closet next to the bathrooms.

Sleepovers

In 07.2, sleepovers were banned. This was due to a conflict in rules--CTY administration did not allow sleepovers without transportation of mattresses, while JHU housing did not allow transportation of mattresses due to its classification as a fire hazard. However, in 08.1 and 08.2, this was resolved--CTYers could sleep over on weekends if they moved their sheets/blankets, but not their mattresses. Depending on your RA, it is possible to have discreet sleepovers on non-legal nights. Unfortunately, sleepovers on the last night of 08.2 were banned, causing anger to many nevermores. In 09.1, RAs were told that site admin would be patrolling the hallways between 12:00 and 3:00 AM, but this never happened. As a result of this deception, sleepovers happened without disturbances. In 11.1, sleepovers were allowed. On the last night, it technically wasn't, but all RAs looked the other way. In 11.2, sleepovers were allowed on weekends. However, illegal sleepovers during the week were extremely easy to have in the girls dorms where there were suites. Intersuite sleepovers were extremely common and happened nearly every night without notice by the RAs.

The following article is currently obsolete. However, it may become useful if sleepovers become banned again (and also on the last Thursday). How to Survive an Illegal Sleepover

Traditions

Aside from a meager Canon, JHU has been void of traditions in previous years. However, with the establishment of the JHU Traditions Committee in 10.2 by the Empress of Passionfruit, it seems that this may change.

Drag Day

In 07.2, students were forbidden from participating in drag day. In 08.1, students organized a drag day. However, RAs were forbidden from participating, and the administration did not officially organize it. In 08.2, it was less concerted and organized. In 09.1, drag day happened with a somewhat small (less than half the camp) turnout. In 09.2, drag day was not endorsed by the administration, but was allowed to happen, with a turn out of one third of the students. In 10.2, Drag Day was neither endorsed nor prohibited by the administration, although it had a single restriction on attire: no bra-stuffing for males. The turnout was about one third of the student body. In 11.1, Drag Day occurred, and most of the student body participated. In 11.2 Drag Day proceeded as per the norm.

The Rape Buttons

The "rape buttons" are emergency buttons that are attached to poles with a blue ball light above and when hit, lights up, sirens sound, and campus security arrives. The name comes from the idea that a sexual assault victim might use the button to summon help.

Post-Meal Activites

After breakfast, lunch, and dinner, students will often be outside playing Ultimate Frisbee, playing football, or just hanging out on the Gentle Slope.

Meet Market

Meet market is after 9:00 and lasts for an hour and is basically social hour on the Gentle Slope. It is supervised by RAs who are there to prevent and discourage "risque activities." In 08.1 and 08.2, there were several dances in front of either AMR I or AMR II.

The lawn used for Meet Market and outdoor activities is known as the Gentle Slope. It borders AMR I, AMR II, some classroom buildings, and the cafeteria, and is surrounded by a brick walkway and park benches.

During 11.1, while the girls were staying in buildings A & B, the grass above the Fresh Foods Cafe was open during Meet Market. There is only one RA on duty and both boys and girls are allowed in the area. This grass is much softer than the stuff on the Gentle Slope and there are many darker spots in the area...

Note to Couples RA's and SRA's set up a perimeter without loopholes. They will always be in visual contact of couples and have walkie talkies to prevent risque activities. Take this from experience: Make a lot of RA friends, they will be invaluable should you explore your romantic side during your session! Kevin Lee

Chinese Take-out

It is a tradition for the older halls to order Chinese take-out food on Friday and Saturday nights.

Passionfruit

Passionfruit at JHU

This doesn't happen consistently--it always occurs, but the various sub-traditions associated with it change when the RAs that run it change. However, it always involves passionfruit juice. Nevermores/RAs from other sites may bring in traditions for a certain session (e.g. election of an Emperor/Empress or writing out "CTY <insert year here>" with empty cups after Passionfruit). Students who have not attended Passionfruits before may or may not end their speeches with "I love CTY and I love the Passionfruit", even though they should.

Emperors/Empresses During 9.2, Trinity King was appointed as both Empress of Passionfruit and Goddess of Blammo. During 10.2, Chris Yi was appointed as Emperor of Passionfruit and Karl Heinlein was appointed as God of Blammo. Chris announced that he would not be attending 11.2, so Karl was elected to both positions. During 11.2, There was a scarcity of elders. Those who actually did have seniority, were not attending the next year. Ryan Muggleton was appointed both positions. Ryan, after consulting the other two members of The Triumvirate, Ryan Dixon and Matthew Ribel, decided to resign due to their prior obligation to attend Carlisle next year. Karl is currently in possession of the Emperor's Hat, the Emperor's New Shoes, the Duct Tape Tie, the Holy Triton, and the Tome of Blammo. (The second and third articles mentioned in the previous sentence were donated courtesy of the Ryans' Hollander Haberdashery.) A search committee is out to find a replacement. Please contact Karl Heinlein on facebook or at karlheinlein@yahoo.com with any inquiries.

**Establishment of the Traditions Committee**

As most seasoned CTYers will say, JHU is very much void of any traditions, aside from Canon which it barely has. In 10.2, a student Rachel and her friends, along with the Empress of Passionfruit Trinity, established the Traditions Committee. The purpose of this Committee was, and is, to a) preserve what little tradition JHU has, b) expose the staggering number of first time CTYers to such traditions, and c) to discuss matters such as adopting traditions, etc. Although student ran, two RAs attended all meetings for supervision and administrative help. The Traditions Committee is led by the reigning Emperor/Empress of Passionfruit. It is advised that anyone going to JHU join this committee in 11.2 (to be led by Karl Heinlein, Empress Trinity's successor) and anyone going to 11.1 fight to have the committee established in that session as well. [Update] A Traditions Committee was not set up 11.1 due to the amazingly large amount of squirrels. Also, while no RAs would endorse it, most veteran Admins (ie, Admin Patrick) completely support and endorse the Traditions Committee. [Update] No Traditions Committee was in place during 11.2, but Karl, along with many others, created a tight-knit community that formed into 3 successful rounds of Blammo, 2 afterdances, and a Passionfruit. Next year's JHU Session 2 Emperor AND God is Ryan Muggleton(there is debate whether he will be able to fulfill this roll).

Neighbors

CTY has shared the campus with various other programs.

  • Summer JHU Campus Tours can frequently be seen. Groups of people will walk around following a guide who explains the campus. Usually, there is no interaction beyond CTYers looking at the groups and vice versa. Some tour guides will explain that JHU hosts summer camps.
  • LeadAmerica also shares the campus. In 07, they also shared the cafeteria and had an intrusive presence. In 08, they were on different parts of the campus, so there were only a few chance encounters, and interaction level was very low.
  • The Field Hockey Girls shared the cafeteria in 08.1. They would leave out their bags and sticks everywhere.
  • The Lacrosse Guys passed through the campus in a huge march in 07.2. In 08, they sometimes walked near CTYers (and also had a huge march), but had no further contact. They inhabited a modern building across the street from the campus, adjacent to the Barnes and Noble, the upper floor of which was used in 08.2 for Casino Night). In 09, they had several large migrations near the Gentle Slope. There was very little contact between the CTYers and the Lacrosse Guys.
  • Precollege and Discover Hopkins: JHU hosts a precollege program. In 08.1, they occupied part of AMR II. They did activities on their own, but often were near the Gentle Slope. They also shared the cafeteria.

In 10.2 they were seen at various times in the dining hall and on the twisty pathways.

  • Hopkins Engineering Innovation: they share the cafeteria. Little is known about them.
  • Center Scholars[1] share the cafeteria. They are part of the CTY program, mostly post-nevermores. All of them were former Baltimore CTYers. There was little interaction between most CTYers and them (with the exception of all Genomics classes), even though they don't bite. They are somewhat harder to distinguish from Precollege and Discover Hopkins. They may show up for some CTY dances.
  • Volleyball Girls At 10.2 They took the place of the lacrosse guys.

CTYers

This is an alphabetical list of all RealCTYers who have attended Baltimore:

Emily Dickson 10.1, 10.2

v • d • e
The Essential CTY
CTYCTY · CAA · Baby CTY · IAAY · CTY organization history · Contact CTY
GeneralLexicon · CTY expansions · Only at CTY · Things we like · What to bring · Courses · Staff · Hall of Fame · Hall of Shame · Shorthand Dates
SitesLancaster · Carlisle · Saratoga Springs (Skidmore) · Los Angeles (LMU) · Baltimore (JHU) · Seattle
Traditional Stuff42 · Lanyard · Canon · "American Pie" · The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy · Hall · Student Hierarchy · Glowsticking (Raving) · Duct tape · Thursday · Monty Python · The Rocky Horror Picture Show · PDA · Grass orgy
Traditional EventsActivities · Mandatory Fun · Quad Time/Meet Market · Dances · The Afterdance · Cross-dress Day · Talent Show · Passionfruit
Traditional GamesThe Game · Silent Football · Mao · Mafia · Risk · Acting Improv
Outside CTYCTY Withdrawal · Reunions · RealCTY Passionfruit · Passionfruit online · Mailing lists · Scholarships · Gifted Education · Nerd Camp Documentary Movie · Other CTY websites
Please visit the Lexicon for more information.
Retrieved from "https://www.realcty.org/index.php?title=Baltimore&oldid=27534"