Hall of Shame:JHU

1990s

No Pie

Session(s):	1995.1

In those dark days before WiFi and iTunes, music had to exist on physical discs. The DJs forgot to bring Don McLean to the first dance. Long-time students were furious; long-time staff were embarrassed.

2000s

Prank Calls

Session(s):	2005.1

At JHU Session 1 2005, there was a doofus who was prank calling Clark AMR 2 dorm at 2:00 a.m., pretending to be the pizza guy, insurance company, et cetera. Two roommates pretended to be KGB operatives to the prank caller(s) and the calls ended.

Cross-Dressing Deemed Offensive

Session(s):	2006.1, 2006.2

At JHU 2006 Session 1 and 2, cross dressing day was canceled by the administration (Edit: AMY) because it was allegedly "offensive" to "real cross-dressers" and homosexuals. A few CTYers attempted to cross dress, but were sent back into their dorms during breakfast to change. Despite the ethics class' attempt to reschedule Cross-dressing Day on a later date through a petition and the administration's supposed consent, no cross dressing day ever took place. This has been called a CTY SIN. As of 2007 additional reasons for banning drag day have been provided. According to the RPA, a father of one of the female CTYers showed up, saw his daughter walking around in boys clothes, got the completely wrong idea and threatened to take her out of the program before someone explained to him what was going on. In addition, parents of male CTYers were none too pleased to see their sons walking around in miniskirts. Unfortunately, due to these few closed minded individuals, this activity has been banned. It seems like the JHU administration is more easily swayed by parental complaints than other sites as many of the evens on this list were inspired by parents.

Alcohol Found in Boys' Dorms

Session(s):	2006.1

At JHU 2006 Session 1, over $1000 worth of empty alcoholic drink bottles were found above the ceiling tiles. The alcohol was apparently left over from previous residents. Although nobody was responsible for this, the dorms were still searched.

Max Koren's update: I was there session 2 in 2005, and saw the bottles there because I was hiding someone's shoes in the ceiling. I guess I didn't care because I didn't tell anyone. Not on purpose, I just didn't think it was very important or whatever.

Metro Weekly

Session(s):	2006.1

The Youth+Service girls of JHU 06 Session 1, on one of their many field trips, picked up a free copy of Metro Weekly, Baltimore's GLBT magazine, without the knowledge of instructor Tre. Upon further examination in line for lunch (that you had to wait in forever because of the meal cards), they found a provocative ad for an "All Male, All Nude" gay cowboy calendar.

They proceeded to cut out the pictures and displayed them not-so-discreetly on their lanyards.

No admin confrontation resulted, but cries of disbelief were heard from both their RA and TA, as well as other students.

Additional Study Hall Added

Session(s):	2007.1

At JHU 2007 Session 1, a single parent complained that their child didn't have a full day of class on the last Thursday. So, the CTY staff decided to add an additional study hall from 3:15 to 5:15 on the last Thursday in place of activities. They failed to mention this adjustment to the teachers until they had made all their lesson plans, so most classes ended up watching a vaguely class related movie. This policy carried over to second session as well.

Elliah's update: Oh yes, I remember this. We (crafting the essay C) watched the Princess Bride as our T.A (Leigh, LT for Carlisle kids) just yelled at the admins on the phone. They shortened the dance as well, that's important to note. The dance was only hours, rather than two hours 45 min.

More Alcohol Found in Boys' Dorms

Session(s):	2007.1

At JHU 2007 Session 1, about 10 bottles of empty alcoholic drinks were found in the ceiling tiles in one room in Pasha's hall. These drinks were found when it became "cool" to sit on top of your dresser for fun. I had first gotten up on my dresser and promptly hit my head on a ceiling panel and I heard a clinking noise. I pushed up the tile and saw a bottle. I proceeded to remove the tile and about 10 glass bottles fell on top of me and onto the floor. The day when this happened was Pasha's day off, so I collected all the bottles and brought them to Devin, who thought that these were my bottles. After much explaining and all of Pasha's and Devin's halls coming to see the bottles Devin called the SRA. The next day we were told that some people were going to come by and check all the panels in all the rooms in Pasha's hall during our classes, and that some of our stuff may be moved. This incident quickly spread across the JHU campus and became very well known.

No More Sleepovers

Session(s):	2007.2

At JHU 2007 Session 2, sleepovers were banned due to conflicting policies. JHU policy bans moving mattresses, while CTY policy bans students from sleeping on anything but their own mattress. People slept over anyways. It is unclear how many people actually slept over, but it is fairly certain that illegal sleepovers occurred in just about every hall. Only the final Saturday evening were students actually busted by RAs for sleeping-over.

For more information on surviving illegal sleepovers without getting caught, see Illegal sleepover.

Devin's Hall Gets Pwned!

Session(s):	2007.2

Jesse's Hall, Pasha's Hall, Devin's Hall, you know what I'm talking about! Devin's Hall challenged Jesse's Hall to a football game; at stake was a hoard of CTY bills valid for the auction. The losing team, Devin's Hall, refused to pay up.

What followed was all-out pwnage of Devin's Hall during the following Social Time. First came the pieing. Jesse's Hall, the Czak Republic, gathered whipped cream into dozens of styrofoam plates. With the help of a sympathetic Pasha's Hall, RA and SRA approval, warfare commenced in the courtyard outside Devin's Hall, with Pasha and Jesse's fighters springing out from the doors and surrounding the members of Devin's team (who were also there with pies). Devin was hit in the face and stomach, as were many members of his hall. Almost all of the CTYers out for Social Time gathered to watch Devin's humiliation. Pasha and Jesse triumphed, victors over the defeated Devin.

But the war was not yet over. A treaty, mediated by SRA Jim, was drawn up, but Pasha's Hall had one more trick to pull. Pasha and his hall had bought the Mystery Prize #2 at the CTY auction, which turned out to be an extra 30 minutes before lights out. At exactly 10:42 PM, Pasha's Hall, all dressed in black to mimic ninja garb, snuck into neighboring Devin's Hall with a hoard of toilet paper and duct tape. First, one brave member ventured forth to put duct tape over all the peepholes. Then, the TPing commenced; toilet paper was strung all over the doors, doorknobs, walls, and ceilings. Pictures were taken and sent to Devin's Hall the next day, because JHU policy would not allow the evidence to sit overnight. Pasha and his troupe returned to their hall, brimming with the sweet feeling of victory.

Raping of Canon

Session(s):	2009.1

All of the Dances at JHU.1 in 09 were devoid of canon. While American Pie was played at all three, it was nearly botched due to the timing of the slideshow. Between the first and third dance, maybe a minute of Stairway to Heaven was played. The reason for this is because a breakdance song (Apache by the Incredible Bongo Band) went overtime and thus Stairway to Heaven was cut out during the first dance. Pretty much no other Canon songs were played. However, this is not abnormal for Baltimore, as most RAs at 2009 were neither RAs from the previous year (who had all graduated out) nor former CTYers themselves, and thus were unfamiliar with the concept of Canon.

Four Expulsions

Session(s):	2009.2

Four students were expelled from the CTY program for two separate incidents. In the second week, two popular CTY students were excused from the program for writing an offensive note about a fellow CTYer in their. Their teacher confiscated the note and handed it over to to the Dean. The day following their expulsions, many CTYers wore all black in mourning. The following expulsions were of two more popular CTY campers during the third week. They were expelled after trying to make a flamethrower using a lighter and a can of AXE Body Spray in a dorm room during a sleep over. They left the site suddenly, only a day before the session ended. Along with the two campers expelled for the incident, four others, who were also at the sleep over, were put on probation for the last dance. One of the students was toasted by a student at Passionfruit the next morning. It should also be noted that their flamethrower idea led to an unofficial rule made by RA Craig: Please Please FOR THE LOVE OF GOD PLEASE DO NOT make flamethrowers, okay?

2010s

Power Outage

Session(s):	2010.1

On the third Tuesday the residents of AMR II (the boys) were woken up at 5:00 am to an unpleasant surprise. Unknown to them at the time, the recent storm had flooded the electrical room, causing the power in both AMR I and AMR II to be turned off. The boys were evacuated to the reading room (in AMR I) due to the possibility of an electrical fire and told to sleep. Eventually the boys were taken to Remsen where they watched part of the Karate Kid. Later the boys were given 5 minutes to go into their dorms and change before class. The girls were woken up at about 7:00 am. The lights in AMR I did not work but that was the only noticeable change that the girls experienced. Girls then had to go to breakfast with their halls. Before class the site director called everyone onto the Gentle Slope and explained the entire situation. They power in AMR I and AMR II was back when students returned from class before activities

The view of a girl: Actually, we were all woken up pretty early, maybe 5:30, by Tom saying, "Meet your RAs at your poles" and some machine that kept whirring pretty loudly. And of course, boys aren't exactly quiet, especially if they're being evacuated at 5 in the morning. Girls had no power, and limited water as well.

Inception

Session(s):	2010.2

On the first RA Day Away at JHU 10.2, the majority of halls signed up to go see Inception...all at the same movie theater. The result was a severe overcrowding of the screening room, to the point that some girls in Rachel and Kate's halls had to sit in the floor.

Stolen Money

Session(s):	2010.2

Over 180 dollars was stolen from Eric's hall, resulting all his boys to be interrogated for over 5 hours a day and making half the hall miss half the 2nd dance. To this day no one knows who stole the money.

Inapropriate Writing

Session(s):	2010.2

One boy of WRIT.A, also in Daren's hall, wrote a paper with erotic writings for a laugh in the dorm. Somehow it was found by the dean. The story had been written in the dorm and the boys of WRIT.A as well as REAS had been sent to the Dean. Most spent a couple of hours talking to the dean, but some spent over 7, resulting in them missing their first dance. Some were innocent while others were put on strict probation and one student was suspended for a day.

Stolen Salt and Pepper Shakers

Session(s):	2011.1

At the end of the first week of CTY, SRAs Raughley and Molly and site director Bobby called everyone together on the Gentle Slope. They announced that 141 salt and pepper shakers had been stolen from the Fresh Foods Cafe. It is currently unknown as to how the perpetrator managed to do this. The sheer number of logistical challenges posed by smuggling such an excessive quantity of salt and pepper shakers out of a crowded cafeteria seems to point to the possibility that the suspect was not acting alone.

After chuckles from the students and warnings of "It's not funny" from some of the RAs (some of whom were struggling to keep from laughing as they said it), they announced that unless the salt and pepper shakers were returned by the next day, they would take away all the remaining shakers from the cafe. They also hinted that some privileges -- such as dances or weekend events -- could be retracted if the behavior continued, but fortunately for everyone this threat was never realized. After a painful condiment-free week, salt and pepper shakers started turning up on a few tables. This may have been a result of other camps eating in the cafe, not as a result of returned shakers. The culprit was never found out by any members of the administration, and as of the end of 11.1 the fate of the 140 or so salt and pepper shakers remains a mystery. Between 11.1 and 11.2 all of the shakers were removed, and 11.2 had to suffer through condiment-free food.

Boys Bathroom Defacing

Session(s):	2011.1

At the same time as the salt and pepper shaker incident, it was found that someone had torn the paper towel dispenser off the wall in the boy's bathroom in the cafeteria. It was also found that people were leaving huge messes on the floors and leaving paper towels everywhere. Due to this, the boy's bathroom in the cafeteria was marked as off-limits for the remainder of the session. If a boy wanted to use the bathroom, they would have to exit the cafeteria and head over to AMR II. At the opening ceremonies for 11.2, students were warned that "bathrooms are a privilege."

Cursing in Talent Show

Session(s):	2011.1

In the Talent Show of CTY, one popular CTY student was planning to rap on stage. However due to lack of practice and unfinished rehearsal, he ended up forgetting his 1st verse lyrics. As he rapped, he said "I'll just rap from the 2nd verse". After few seconds of the 2nd verse, he forgot the lyrics again, and he ended up dropping an F-bomb through the microphone. He was sent off stage immediately. Almost the whole auditorium was still cheering for him even after he was sent off the stage.

Three Expulsions

Session(s):	2011.2

Within the first two days of Session 2 2011 three students were sent home. One of the students was unfairly charged by site director Andrea, and Counselor Gabby.This is WAR.

Creeper!

Session(s):	2012.1

In the boys bathroom by the Creative Nonfiction class, a creepy old man intimidated students one study hall. It is alleged he said to one boy "Are you enjoying going to the restroom?" The next day, the rule was that students had to always be accompanied by a teacher or TA to the bathroom and could only go at breaks. This created many awkward situations where the teacher and TA were of he same gender and girl TAs or teachers had to accompany boys to the bathroom, and vice versa.

Lack of Talent Show

Session(s):	2012.2

Due to about ten people signing up for Talent Show weekly activity, the JHU 2012.2 Talent Show was canceled. Instead Second Sunday was deemed Ultimate Kickback Day where students could hang out in the dorms or on the Gentle Slope.

Two Expulsions

2 students were expelled for posting...ahem... CTYI images on their hallmates' Facebook profile. Another student was unfairly put on probation for being in the same room but not reporting it.

The Loss of Canon

Canon this year was extremely limited. Dean Raughley justified this by saying that newer songs were more inclusive. As a result, 13.2 Empress of the Passionfruit and Goddess of BLAMMO are trying to finalize a Canon list that will appease both staff and students.

Pirated Music

Session(s):	2013.2

Strange remixes of songs were played at the second dance due to the DJs using a pirated music site. American Pie was also cut short.

Fire Alarm

Session(s):	2015.2

On July 16, Corey's hall was about to go to dinner when the fire alarm went off. Later, the site administrators reported to Corey's hall that their fire alarm was the one that had been pulled. But when it went off, most of the hall was next to the fire alarm so it was probably an accident. Nevertheless, Corey and Cody castigated and threatened the hall. The perpetrator, intentional or otherwise, has not been caught to this day.