Public Displays of Affection

Public Displays of Affection (PDA), including excessive kissing, holding, and pretty much anything further that shows adoration, love, or affection, were completely outlawed according to CTY rules. However, it turns out that it's very hard to enforce PDA rules when you've got several hundred sexually deprived teenagers all in one place. PDA rules are thus subject to alteration over the years, and students are constantly looking for ways around these rules.

Depending on the administration and the residential staff, PDA rule enforcement can be incredibly harsh, or mild and sometimes jocular. RAs are often seen patrolling dances with a stuffed toy, a flashlight, or a plastic bat, separating students who are dancing too close (the RAs themselves will sometimes pointedly dance far apart from each other; alternately, they will do the precise opposite). In better years, more lenient RAs might make a show out of turning their backs on students for several seconds at a time. In contrast to res staff, instructional staff tend not to involve themselves as much with PDA rules.

Most PDA at CTY is fairly public, but it would be a rare year if something of greater scale happened than making out for extended periods (but, then again, the rules are for Public, not Private, Displays of Affection). Regarding this, as one RA put it: "All clothing should remain in place. And it's no excuse if he/she shows up naked."

Lancaster

Brief hugging is acceptable, leading to the well-circulated joke "Ten seconds and you're pregnant!" Three-second closed-mouth kissing is also acceptable. In 06.1, the standard of "It's not PDA if a mother can do it to a child without it being incest" was popularized by Molly Brean and circulated among the students.

The rule is possibly the result of arguably over-the-top behavior at Lancaster in 1985, but may have evolved independently at multiple sites over time.

Modern History

In 2001, a list of "Don'ts" was published on all hall bulletin boards, featuring "No guys on girl halls or girls on guy halls." Seizing on the double negative, students claimed that this rule would be violated if there were a guys' hall that didn't have a girl on it or a girls' hall that didn't have a guy on it. The wording of this rule was soon changed. At Lancaster, however, two of the actions that can lead to expulsion are still "No males on female halls," and "No females on male halls." All the other actions are listed as verbs.

In 2006, many new PDA rules were created and enforced. These new rules included: no holding hands, no linking arms, no hugging for more than three seconds, no open-mouth kissing, no grinding, no slow dancing less than half a foot apart (a.k.a. "Six Inches!"), and "keeping hands above the equator". The more absurd of these rules were only intermittently enforced, such as hand-holding and arm-linking, thereby creating a chance to form "PDA Chains." After a call to (or from; details are uncertain) JHU, made after one student petitioned (Molly Brean) and parents duly complained, the administration decided to change some of the more ridiculous rules, notably the hand-holding rule. However, students were not informed of this change and many staff found out only after a long delay. Donna Dougherty, an elementary school teacher who had no experience handling sexually deprived teenagers (or, it is likely, things like puppies or air or bedsheets), is still considered one of Lancaster's worst site directors.

See also: The Lancaster Hall of Shame.

The worst of these rules had passed by second session, but a "no lying on the grass" rule was introduced. Enforcement depended on the RA. Some RAs appeared confused by the new limits. Frank Wang informed a particular couple that there was "No... lying... on the... uh, grass..." as if he didn't know what that green plant covering the ground was.

Era of the Grass Orgy Ban

The next year, with the advent of Site Director Brian, most of the Donna-induced craziness had worn off. RAs were much more lax about PDA, breaking up only the most serious of PDA infractions. The primary cause of complaint in 2007 was the banning of grass orgies. Brian chalked this down to Baltimore's fear of trampling; however, popular belief was that this rule arose out of worries about nomenclature.

An odd message appeared on the paper that the RAs read off of at one of the hall meeting, stating, "One butt per seat, one face per face." The phrase "one face per face" caused an excessive amount of confusion amongst the students, but an RA later confirmed that it simply means a student is not allowed to rip the face off of another student and tape it onto his/her own. Towards the end of session, RA Jeremy, after (correctly) suspecting illicit activities going on in a circle, broke up said circle mercilessly and placed a (completely unofficial) ban on standing in circles for the remainder of the session. He attempted first to observe the students' activities by standing in the middle of the circle, but nothing prevented those behind him from covertly making out. This scenario can only indicate that, being as clever as they are, CTY students will forever find ways to outsmart the PDA rules.

The grass orgy ban was informally lifted in 2008 (although the administration, led by Site Director Debbie and DRL Matt, took an official stance that grass orgies would always be illegal). In Session 2, all co-ed lounges were closed, and a number of students were punished, due to a hickey circle discovered in one lounge (although Schnader lounge was closed not because of PDA, but rather, a watermelon*). Arguably, student violations of PDA rules may have gone too far in 2008, in the case of rumors of two students stripping entirely towards the end of a rendition of the CTY Chant after Passionfruit. Milder stripping to the chant also occurred, mostly in the form of top-removal (bras stayed on).

• This begs for clarification: Somebody got really mad and smashed a watermelon all over the lounge, so it was closed for cleanup.

In 2009.1, grass orgies were banned again, due to Baltimore's "safety concerns," and the RAs enforced the rule very strictly. Lying next to or on top of someone on the grass was also forbidden. Grass orgies, as usual, were held on the first and last days of session. In addition, there was one very strange rule that prohibited hugging for more than three seconds between anyone. A joke spread through the camp saying that hugging for more than three seconds was what got guys pregnant, as everyone at CTY knew that hugging does not get girls pregnant. Hand-holding and short closed-mouth kisses were still allowed.

Carlisle

In 2005.2, PDA rules at Carlisle were extremely strict and zero-tolerance: nothing besides hand-holding was accepted. However, in both previous and subsequent sessions, PDA rules were enforced mildly, usually dependent on RA. Hand-holding and short kissing are generally allowed; sitting on others' laps is not. RAs who catch PDA at Meet Market usually tell students to stop, and rarely stay to supervise for long durations.

Many PDA violations occur at dances. Slow-dancing is generally acceptable regardless of distance; however, RAs are on the lookout for couples making out or violating higher PDA rules. Before the last dance, the administration announced that any couple dancing "suggestively" would be put into time out: 5 minutes for the first hour, 15 for the second hour, and the rest of the dance if after 10:00. This rule was enforced depending on the RA. Some couples or groups were warned repeatedly and not put in the penalty box while others where never warned and put in the penalty box right away. Being in the penalty box warranted both a time out and an official write-up, such that it was noted in the student's permanent record.

As recently as 2008, grass orgies were allowed.

Saratoga Springs (Skidmore)

In 2005, SRA Felicia brought Tater to CTY. Tater was a stuffed potato who was stuck on the end of a stick and was used to separate overly-intimate slowdancing, hence the phrase "Leave room for Tater." Tater stuck around for 06.2, in which the first Saturday Mandatory Fun was called "Where's Tater." One of the staff members had supposedly stolen Tater and the activity was to solve puzzles to find out who did it. The original plan included more activities than puzzle solving, but it rained that day so the RAs had to make up puzzles while the students were watching Inspector Gadget. In the end, it turned out SRA Manan had stolen Tater and he was returned. There was no rejoicing. Tater returns to Saratoga frequently, with the exception of (at least) 08.1, when he went visiting other sites. RAs resorted to modifying the phrase "Leave room for Tater" to fit the current dance theme.

Dance rules at Saratoga Springs are relatively lenient compared to those at other sites. Couples who are grinding or slowdancing are generally not broken up. RAs sometimes patrol with a flashlight and are satisfied as long as they can "see the light" between dancing couples. However, large grinding chains, such as those formed in 08.1, suggest that grinding is sanctioned or ignored.

Lying on top of each other or parallel to each other is forbidden; however, stummy lays / grass orgies are entirely possible because they are formed by perpendicular lying. Grass orgies have been legal as recently as 2008.

Loudonville (Siena)

A no-PDA policy is enforced regularly at Siena, with the exception of minor PDA such as hugging, holding-hands, or cuddling. Enforcement becomes more lenient at dances, where undiscovered PDA occurs more frequently; grinding is occasionally allowed.

Since 2005, lying on the grass fully reclined has been prohibited. The enforcement of this rule has greatly grown over time.

In the last week of 2008.1, an activity called "PDA" recurred daily. It did not incorporate any actual PDA, but was certainly entertaining. Each day featured a different subject for which "PDA" was an acronym. These subjects included "Padua Dorm Activities," "Philosophical Debate Attacks," and "Play-Doh Appreciation.

Los Angeles (LMU)

In 2004, RAs began a serious PDA crackdown, especially at the dances, repeatedly separating slow-dancers and grinders of any sex combination. Intertwining of anyone's legs was also prohibited. Holding hands, non-mouth kisses, and half-second closed-mouth kisses were allowed, but no making out. Rules required that hands stay in "appropriate" places (this included not grabbing asses while dancing). Freaking was banned. Same sex grinding was fine.

In 2006.2, a rule stating that people of different sexes could not lie on the ground together in close proximity was introduced. However, in years since then, grass orgies have been allowed with little regulation. RAs and students have occasionally expressed worries about trampling. However, even in 2009, during the flu scare, grass orgies occurred frequently. However, as many RAs objected to the name, students often renamed them 'Daisy Chains'. Additionally, the "foot orgy," a less comfortable variant, was invented.

Baltimore (JHU)

In 2005, ANY PDA set off an alarm for RAs; they would come and ask your names and then call your parents. The next year, however, enforcement was more lenient. RAs turned the other way in Bugblatter Beast fashion, and makeouts happened at dances.

PDA rules are enforced less strictly during dances, when couples would regularly make out in the middle of the dance floor where RAs couldn't see them from the perimeter of the Glass Pavilion. Despite the strictness of many Baltimore rules, PDA rules are generally not harshly enforced by the staff and administration.

Unknown: Two students are caught open mouth kissing on the Gentle Slope. When they try to leave the Gentle Slope with their dignity, they discover that their lanyards are tangled, and they are stuck until an RA comes to help them out. The story is still told by RAs as of 08.1

Hawaii

05.2: Any slow dancing and most grinding was fine. Three-second closed-mouth kissing was generally allowed. Hand holding, arms around each other, and the like were fine.

Easton

08.1 RAs are particularly strict about PDA. The six inch rule is enforced often and some couples are picked on more than others, based on how well known they are and if they are repeat "offenders". At the dances the RAs literally walk through the crowd,and separate couples if they are too close. The phrase "Hands Above the Equator" is often used when reprimanding couples while slow dancing. Some RAs also use the phrase "Keep it Kosher". Grinding happened a lot at the dances. It was often broken up only to continue as soon as the RA was gone.

Make outs happened behind the bench in Farinon. This wasn't really possible at the dances but during CAAsino night two couples made out repeatedly while on the ground behind the bench opposite the main room. The tree, during Quad Time, is also a common make out spot, and is often patrolled during Quad Time.

During Session 2 of 2008, a certain RA enforced a four/five and half second hug rule, which was obviously broken often. The strictness of PDA was upped because of this RA, who also didn't like when couples had their arms around each others waists. Oftentimes, couples making out during Quad Time would have a flashlight shone in their direction, causing the couple in question to break apart... momentarily, then continue after the RAs left. Close slow dances were also interrupted by an RA, sometimes even more than one, when the RA(s) would dance between the couples.