D-Day

D-Day, a tradition conceptualized during the 2009 first session which will take place during all future first sessions on the Wednesday of the second week, commemorating the closure of 2009 Carlisle Session One due to a Flu outbreak.

The morning of July 8th, we were alerted that there was a camp-wide meeting in ATS instead of morning classes. Upon arrival, we all sat down and Bret took the stage. Without a microphone, he loudly and clearly informed us that due to the flu outbreak, CTY was no longer a guaranteed safe atmosphere. As safety is the most important layer of the CTY cake, he told us that the session was ending. Some people started crying and there was an emergency Passionfruit called for the next morning. They gave us until Saturday to leave. I remember when Bret first said it a bunch of things flashed through my mind, including "Haha what a funny joke this is." But mainly I just sat there with my mouth open for around 5 seconds before breaking down.

That night Jesus (currently Vivian Feldblyum) gave the usual Last Supper speech and announced the new Jesus, a flu victim. A canon dance was organized under Super Quad arch later during the last Meet Market, with the help of some loud iPod speakers. Many traditions were crammed into the next 24 hours; a large group of students went to Massey's, and many were covered in Love Tape. The next morning there was a Passionfruit. Everyone attending was required to speak and the new emperor/empress were crowned. It was very emotional for all the CTYers present. D-Day has gone down in CTY history and will remembered, among other things as being very surreal to everyone attending session 1.

The closing of CTY was publicized in the Carlisle and Harrisburg newspapers and on many local radio stations.

Eyewitness Accounts

Many remember the sadness from thinking about this before it happened when the first cases of flu came out.

Prior to the fateful assembly, students joked about what was going to happen. Said one: "Yeah, if 100 kids spontaneously start vomiting, maybe they'll send us all home." Oh, the irony.

The final big meet market at night of July 8th some left as we had a mini dance under super quad arch.

In the end they chanted

"cty i had a great time"

"cty i love you"

or a slight variation of the first line.

-Brandon Yu Carlisle 09 Session 1

Cases retested and yes one of the first cases where swine flu, they just didn't want panic from CTY. -Brandon Yu Carlisle 09 Session 1

There was also a final "dance" arranged by a number of CTYers (I assume it was the Passionfruit court, and probably some others) that took place under the arch on July 8th during the extended Meet Market period. iPod speakers were used for the music, and the dance commenced. While "normal" music was played at first, soon a Canon playlist was put on, culminating in Stairway to Heaven and American Pie. American Pie was an emotional success. While the speakers were often overpowered by the mere presence of so many people, everyone knew the words and we mostly stayed in sync with the song.

-Bonnie Eisenman, Carlisle 09, Session 1