The risky game of “Fox Day Roulette”—Amir plans which day to leave for his trip to Chicago to present at the renowned Midwest Political Science Association Conference.
“Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold. But other times it’s essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.”—Douglas Pagels
It’s that time of year—that day we all wait for in anticipation once spring break ends. It is arguably one of the greatest things about Rollins, and it is the thing I love telling people about most when they ask about what college I go to. Folks, I am talking about Fox Day.
To me, it is a holiday that ranks right up there as the most amazing holiday ever. I mean, it employs the best aspects of other holidays to make it, quite frankly, a mega-holiday: there is the innocent and wide-eyed anticipation that Christmas morning used to bring, the dual components of beach time and BBQ that the Fourth of July is known for, and I do not need to explain how St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco de Mayo are represented in the mix. Not to mention the fact that it is literally a day off from all work-related responsibilities, à la Labor Day. What I am trying to say is that I truly feel sorry for all those who are not able to enjoy one of the most fun, exciting, and memorable days that only comes four times in the lives of most students at Rollins.
To be honest, though, my Fox Day experiences have not been the most “intense.” For example: for every Fox Day I have celebrated, I have never once left campus. That is not to say that I have not been able to enjoy my Fox Days…but extenuating circumstances got in the way (such as having major Psychology exams scheduled the day right after…for two years in a row). So, this year I took all of the precautions necessary to ensure that my senior Fox Day would go off without a hitch. For one, I bulked up on Psych courses last semester so I could be sure to finish the major before spring. Also, the only three classes I am taking now have no tests, papers, or assignments scheduled anywhere near when Fox Day has historically taken place under the Duncan Administration (March 29-April 12). All my i’s were dotted and t’s crossed, right? Well…not so much.
Last semester, I was selected to present my thesis via poster session at the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) Conference in Chicago. It is one of the largest and most prestigious political science conferences in the United States. Needless to say, I was quite happy to hear the news. That was until I heard the dates for when the conference was to be held: April 3-6… also known as “primetime Fox Day placement.” Now, while only April 3 is my day of worry (since Fox Day is never on a Monday or Friday), and my main presentation is not until Friday, I have taken the time to examine P. Dunc’s history of Fox Day selections, and I could not shake the feeling that it would be on April 3. It is not that I want this to happen, but knowing my Fox Day luck, it still feels like it is a given.
When I went to my thesis advisor with this terrible dilemma, he gave very few words of encouragement. In fact, if memory serves me, his exact words were: “I’m not going to book flight plans on when Fox Day may be.” So, I had to make a tough decision: do I play my own game of “Fox Day Roulette” and try booking a flight for Friday morning, potentially missing the conference altogether if inclement weather were to arise, or do I bite the bullet and realize that some things are just more important than finally celebrating the Fox Day of my dreams? Ultimately, I bit the bullet and booked my flight for Thursday morning.
Fox Day is amazing no matter how you celebrate it. It is the one time a year that I truly feel our whole campus comes together and bonds like a real community. At the end of the day, that is the only thing that matters. So whether you decide to get wasted at the beach, share the day with Mickey Mouse, or just want to become reacquainted with your bed, there is no wrong way to enjoy Fox Day. That being the case, I highly recommend you doing so with a friend or two. Even though I spent every Fox Day at Rollins, I made sure never to do so alone.
I think that’s why I’m most nervous about Fox Day being on April 3. Because I will be in Chicago while everyone I know and love will be back in Florida. Yet, even if that is the case, I cannot let that stop me from celebrating. So, even if that means eating a whole XL Chicago Deep Dish pizza, after climbing to the top of the Sears (now Willis) Tower, and ending the night with a glass or three of Jim Bean at some bar or tavern, then I will proceed to do just that. And who knows, I might just run into an alum or two who will still decide to celebrate a tradition that has been around for more than fifty years.
But, if it is all the same to you, President Duncan, maybe you would like to consider the dates of April 8 or March 27 for Fox Day this year? Just a suggestion…
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