College Holding First Dance in 143 Years

[Rooster_Ties]

College Holding First Dance in 143 Years

By DON BABWIN Associated Press Writer

published 02:04 PM - NOVEMBER 13, 2003 Eastern Time

As many as 1,200 students at Wheaton College will gather in the gym Friday night for the first real dance in the Christian school's 143-year history.

Which explains why students in recent days have been seeking out classmates who know this stuff and looking for places where they can practice. And it explains why on Monday night and Tuesday night, dozens of students packed a room on campus for a quick dance lesson.

Andy Morgan, one of the students at the lesson, said he figured he was in no danger of embarrassing himself. He went to a high school that did not permit dancing. And when it came time to pick a college, he settled on a school that had not allowed social dancing since the war. The Civil War.

"I've had a great excuse all my life," 21-year-old Morgan said.

Not anymore.

"It's crunch time," said 20-year-old Steve Paulus, sounding more like he was talking about cramming for a final than learning to hold his own when the swing band the Rhythm Rockets take the stage.

"We are kind of trying to downplay it because it really is another event," said Bethany Jones, a student leader and organizer of the dance. "But on the other hand, we do realize it is historic. It is a big deal."

Part of the reason is that change, any change, does not come quickly or without great deliberation at this quiet campus 25 miles outside Chicago.

It was not until the 1960s that the school lifted the rule prohibiting students from going to movies. For generations, students were barred from dancing -- on campus or off -- unless it was with members of the same sex [ironically!! - RT] or a square dance. It was not until the 1990s that students and faculty were permitted to dance with spouses or relatives at family events such as weddings.

Nine months ago, the school lifted the ban altogether, freeing students to cut the rug on campus or off, at Chicago clubs or other places. (Wheaton also eased its ban on alcohol and smoking for faculty and staff. They can now drink and light up off campus, as long as it is not in front of undergraduates.)

Under the new set of rules, called the Community Covenant, students may dance, but should avoid behavior "which may be immodest, sinfully erotic or harmfully violent."

Judging by what happened Monday night, meeting those criteria will not be a problem. There was no slithering going on, only students, some about as rigid as rakes, watching their feet as they tried to master some basic steps.

"They had a lot of fun, but they kind of approached it from almost an academic standpoint," said Rich Nickel, a local dance instructor who helped get the students ready for the Rhythm Rockets' lineup, which will feature such standards as "Sentimental Journey" and "Sunny Side of the Street."

Students say they have been amazed by all the attention the dance has generated. News organizations have descended on the campus, and students have been swamped with calls and e-mails from friends and family.

"They want to know if Wheaton is going all liberal, falling apart," Morgan said.

While some students say all the attention is ridiculous, others, like Jones, said it will ultimately prove positive.

"It is really going to improve the outlook the rest of the world has of ou r students," the 21-year-old said. "It makes Wheaton into a place where people don't do so much thinking about what we aren't allowed to do."

Graham Claybrook, a senior, agreed: "It will be nice to be able to tell my friends that I go to a college that is fairly normal."

Administration officials say that lifting the dance ban will help get students ready to deal with the real world after they graduate.

"Students need to learn how to make responsible choices," said Sam Shellhamer, vice president for student development. "We want to make students learn how to think critically, be discerning and learn how to make wise choices."

Shellhamer said there has been concern among some alumni, but for the most part, the reaction has been positive.

Laurelyn Claybrook, Graham Claybrook's mother and a 1973 graduate, applauded the move. "I just hated to see the amount of energy spent fussing over whether dancing was OK or not OK," she said.

Besides, she joked, there may not be all that much for anyone to be concerned about: "They MAY dance at Wheaton. Whether they CAN dance is another question."

[AfricaBrass]

I think that story is nice.

I guess the students there aren't as lucky as the rest of us in the real world.

Heck, maybe in fifty years, the students will be having babies in the bathroom of the dance and abandoning them.

These poor fools don't know what they're missing out on.

[Jazzmoose]

I wish the college I attended had banned dancing. Jeez, can you possibly embarrass an overweight white guy any more??

[Rooster_Ties]

How does public dancing (and going to the movies) lead to "having babies in the bathroom of the dance and abandoning them"???

( There are millions of people who have gone to college and high school dances, for decades -- and 1 case of a girl having a baby at a dance, an abandoning it. )

Edited November 13, 2003 by Rooster_Ties

[AfricaBrass]

How does public dancing (and going to the movies) lead to "having babies in the bathroom of the dance and abandoning them"???

( There are millions of people who have gone to college and high school dances, for decades -- and 1 case of a girl having a baby at a dance, an abandoning it. )

I guess the way I read the initial post was that it was posted to mock these people for being so conservative in their values.

All I'm saying is that progress isn't always a great thing.

Yes, I agree it's silly that they haven't allowed dancing until now.

I guess I wish the world was a little bit simpler and not so jaded.

[AfricaBrass]

Sorry Rooster,

I was being a little cynical in my first post, and I went for the easiest target.

I guess all these talks about social issues are getting to me a little.

[jazzypaul]

For about a year, I lived within spitting distance of Wheaton College. It's actually a pretty bizarre place. It's a devout Christian school that takes God very seriously. On the other hand, unlike many Christian colleges, acedemically, it's in the Ivy League category. It has a monster of a music conservatory, and its education program is absolutely top notch.

Wheaton, the town, is pretty much the same way. It is seriously one of the most innocent towns you will ever see. There are more churches per capita in Wheaton than in any other place in the country. The downtown district has two barber shops, a few restaurants to eat at, a dairy queen, a beautiful park to stroll through and a museum. Up until about 10 years ago, it was a dry town. There were two places that had liquor licences dating to the 1910's that had been grandfathered in: a banquet hall, which is generally left alone to do its business, and one of the randiest townie bars that you have ever seen. There had been petitions, rallies and massive police blockades to try to shut this place down, which just made it more popular. Even in these more recent days where bars are permitted in Wheaton, you still will not be able to move, much less get a drink at the Gables on a Friday or Saturday night.

So, what is Wheaton college, really? Simply a college that is modeled after its own community. And just as Wheaton had to cave in and allow its residents to drink and have a good time, so does Wheaton College. I am sure that the administration is tired of hearing about WC students at the Gables saying, "dude, I'm a Whaton student, don't tell anyone I'm here!"

I'm glad that Wheaton finally lifted its ban, which is somewhat ridiculous anyway. If they're bringing in Christian students that truly believe what they say they believe, then dancing will be nothing more than dancing. A glass of wine will be no more than a glass of wine, and not much will change. If the ban had to be put in place to keep up appearances however, well, then the ban only proves what far too many people have been saying about fundamentalist christians for so long anyway...

[jacman]

They are all going to burn in H. E. double toothpicks. This dancing thing should never be allowed. they'll listen to that jungle music, it'll stir up all sorts of animal lusts, and soon there will be a whole bunch of horny 19 year old virgin women all sweaty and breathless....where did you say this Wheaton College is?

(the above statement satire and quite possibly humorous and in no way reflects the views and/or attitude of the staff and/or management of Organissimo, their website or their sponsors).

[Jazzmoose]

(the above statement satire and quite possibly humorous and in no way reflects the views and/or attitude of the staff and/or management of Organissimo, their website or their sponsors).

I agree, but what's the address?