Baltimore
The Baltimore site utilizes the actual campus of Johns Hopkins University. Although it houses the main administration for CTY, it was not made into an actual site until fairly recently. It is also considered the strictest site, and has the fewest traditions. Baltimore is where many of the newer rules come from. It has no set Canon other than American Pie.
As of 06.1 Baltimore now has a set canon (not in order):
- American Pie - Don Mclean
- Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
- Blister in the Sun - The Violent Femmes
- Everytime We Touch - Cascada
- Sandstorm - Darude
- Forever Young - Alphaville
- Let It Be - The Beatles
As of 07.2:
- Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's (Subject to Change)
- Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin (Subject to Change)
- Build Me Up Buttercup
In addition the dances only last until 9:45 rather than 10:30 and songs will get partially played after American pie as everyone is leaving.
Baltimore. Well, what everyone says about the lack of traditions is quite true, and it's also true that the RA's are generally very strict. In 07.2, flashlights and sleepovers were banned (*gasp*), although with a bit of sneaking around and hiding you could manage to get into each others' rooms. Neighboring dorm rooms could also tap messages with Morse Code through the wall. Tylenol, Advil, Aspirin, and Ibuprofen were all confiscated by RA's, but it's handy to stash a few in your pillow or wardrobe just in case.
From what I hear, the food was a lot better 07.2 than other years, there being french fries, pizza, grilled cheese, hot dogs, pasta, and a sandwich and salad bar everyday. The macaroni and cheese was amazing. The scrambled eggs got runny and goopy though... and the food was basically the same thing every day.
Dances played sub-par music, much to the dismay of most of 07.2. It is true that a canon is starting up, as far as I know.
As of 07.2: How to Survive an Illegal Sleepover
An experienced veteran's account of how not to get caught.
Okay, I have been here. It's not too bad, and it may be the strictest, but it's really not as bad as it sounds. The fobs work all the time, at least they did last year (2005); however, TA's patrol it. However, with deception, underground tunnels, and a bit of pad-footing, you can get back to your dorm. There is no canon, as mentioned, but the songs aren't too bad. The quad is pretty good, and there are french fries and hamburgers every day. The dorm rooms are also very nice, with carpets. Plus, there is a whole building for all the boys and one for all the girls, so you don't have to stand by the door to your friend's building and shoot rubber bands at his window usually.
There is one thing JHU is famous for: Benedict! Hi, Benedict/ Zeus, I hope you're reading this, but you probably aren't. I was the friend of that guy you wanted to "run for Benedict next year."
Who is Benedict? He's famous, that's who he is. Why? I don't know. He's famous for being famous. He went around to all the dorms, writing "Benedict Day" on all the holiday calendars for the middle Wednesday. Not much happened on Benedict Day, except for Benedict sneaking up on people and yelling, "Happy Benedict Day!" If you plan on going to JHU, perhaps you should run for Benedict!
But it's no Lancaster; this is like CTY for trainees. If you go to Lancaster your first year, you could drown in the overwhelming tradition! Of course, if you go to Baltimore, you could drown in the overwhelming lack of tradition. -Max K.
