My name is Anna Roumiantsev, and I am part of the class of 2025 at Bryn Mawr College. On behalf of many students, I am writing to advocate for rescheduling WTF Week to the first week in April (4/2-4/4). I, with much help from sophomore Ellis Stevens, have decided to create a petition to encourage traditions to move WTF week with support from the Bryn Mawr College student body. WTF week is a very important tradition for the students, as it fosters connection among first-years and upperclassmen students, which is vital in strengthening our community. However, its current timing creates significant challenges that hinder its purpose.
First, the early scheduling leaves little opportunity for first-years and upper classpeople (roses and buds) to build meaningful relationships. With only a brief window between the start of second semester classes and WTF Week, students often feel rushed to form bonds and submit proposals. I have personally heard from first-years students expressing their anxieties over not having enough time to make these vital connections. In addition, the Mistresses’ goal is to preserve the tradition of having WTF Week this early in the Spring semester has left Rose and Bud mixers rushed and essentially absent.
Second, moving WTF Week to April would greatly improve its safety and enjoyment for all students, campus-wide. February’s frigid temperatures and limited daylight pose health and safety risks, especially given most family traditions are held outdoors. By holding the tradition after daylight savings, participants would benefit from warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and safer conditions on campus.
This week in February also coincides with the swim team’s centennial conference championships. This conference takes place at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. The swim team will stay overnight at the championship meet from Thursday morning to Sunday night, meaning we will miss almost the entirety of WTF week. The schedule of this meet is comprised of two 3-4 hour sessions a day, with room for only meals and sleep. The current Tradition Mistresses offered to provide an alternative schedule for us at the meet, however, this is not possible given the intensity of the sports championship. Even after explaining this to the Traditions Mistresses multiple times, the “solution” remains unchanged. Given this circumstance, the first-years would be deprived of the opportunity to experience and celebrate WTF week the way all of us have in the past.
I had the pleasure of holding the position of traditions Mistress with my fellow Mistex Aaniyah Alexander; therefore, I am qualified to speak on behalf of how traditions at Bryn Mawr operates. Aaniyah and I made it a point to make traditions as inclusive and accessible as possible. While we are not perfect people, we did everything in our power to accommodate all students. The current Traditions Mistresses have told me that we cannot move WTF week due to “budget restraints, Ramadan, and campus-wide events, to just what will allow the most people to fully participate” (quoted from an email from Trads Mistex Kendall Phillips). The proposed date (4/2-4/4) is not during any religious holidays and will not provide any extra-budgetary expenses. The only event that overlaps with these dates is one of THREE admitted students’ weekends. The current Traditions Mistresses expressed that they do not want Bryn Mawr College as an institution to ‘look bad’ given the events that take place during WTF week. To me, it seems that they are prioritizing the restrictive concerns of the administration rather than the celebration of the students who are actively a part of our community. Given that this is the only concern these dates pose, more students would actually be able to participate in April.
Traditions today seems to prioritize the ‘traditional’ element of traditions pre-2020. We already saw this earlier in the year when they moved Lantern Night back to Great Hall, and we are again seeing this when they make WTF week in February. Since I have been on this campus, each Traditions Mistex has worked to evolve traditions towards a path of inclusivity. The actions of the current traditions team suggest otherwise. Given these concerns, we urge the traditions mistresses to reschedule WTF Week. A later date would better align with the goals of traditions, enhance safety and enjoyment, as well as allow all students to participate fully.
Thank you,
Anna Roumiantsev
