As Bryn Mawr College prepares for its annual “Welcome the First Years Week” (WTF Week) tradition, the Office of Residential Life & Student Engagement has shared that two controversial policies from last year’s WTF Week will be returning.
Mia Harvey, the Student Engagement Coordinator, told the Bi-Co News that “students can expect to see staff members from Residential Life & Student Engagement and the Restorative Practice office at campus-wide events.”
Harvey specified that “members of these offices will be present at all campus-wide traditions that do not occur within the dorms.” Harvey emphasized in her email, however, that staff members will be attending to “support the tradition and ensure the safety of all students during these events.”
Historically, WTF Week campus events have included partial student nudity. As such, the college’s policy of staff attendance has led to discussions about the balance between adhering to student traditions and privacy whilst also maintaining a safe environment. In February 2024, the college’s new policy of staff attendance and no containers led to student outrage on campus.
One Bryn Mawr student, Samantha Kopkowski ‘25, stated “It just makes people not want to participate in these events, which I think we can all agree is a net negative. I also think that, for those who do participate, it creates a rebellious attitude and a sense of a false dichotomy between students and staff that ultimately leads to poorer behavior and a desire to evade staff during these events, which I think is not a good call for safety reasons.”
Before 2024, WTF events were supervised by student bouncers and hosts who worked to ensure parties were only attended by students in the community and that underage students were not consuming alcohol.
The no-container policy from last year will also be returning, with Harvey commenting that “for the safety and enjoyment of all attendees, containers are not permitted at campus-wide events. This policy echoes the indoor May Day concert procedures as both Great Hall and Goodhart Auditorium are public spaces.” Harvey urges students to refer to the college’s policies on party and public spaces, which states, “alcoholic beverages are not to be served or consumed at student parties open to and/or advertised in the College, Bi-College, or Tri-College community. Additionally, alcoholic beverages can neither be served nor consumed at open parties held in public spaces.” Harvey pointed out that “The college policy around alcohol and drugs is not specific to WTF Week; it applies to all campus-wide activities throughout the year. These policies reflect the college’s compliance with state and federal laws.”
In February 2024, after the no-container policy was introduced, campus safety reports showed a significant spike in alcohol poisoning during WTF Week. Five students were taken to the hospital, which is four more students than the WTF week in 2023.
In response to the no-container policy, a Bryn Mawr student who wished to remain anonymous commented that “I think that they should trust us in our decision making more especially because things like the no container policy just drive people to do it in secret, and to do things like pregame or binge-drink afterwards, which are dangerous.”
When asked how the Office of Residential Life & Student Engagement decided on the divisive WTF Week policies, Harvey commented that “We take feedback from the previous year, student experiences, and follow institutional, state, and federal guidelines. At its core it’s about safety for our entire community; WTF week is a special tradition that we hope everyone enjoys.”
