Loudonville
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Loudonville is referred to by many, many names, due to two changes in location. It is also referred to as Hamilton (Clinton), Union (Schenectady), and Siena (Loudonville). Other names include "Hamunioniena" or "Hamuniena," or simply "The gypsy site".
Contents
History
The CTY program opened at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York pre-1994, moved to Union College in Schenectady, New York in 2001, and finally "settled down" at Siena. For this reason, CTYers refer to any of the three sites as "Hamunioniena" (or "Hamuniena" or other variants) or simply "The gypsy site."
In 2008, Loudonville also became a Baby CTY site.
After summer 2008, the CTY administration has decided to close the site at Siena, citing "insufficient people" as the reason.
Overview
Located in a serene suburb of Albany, New York, Siena College ranks as one of the Northeast's premier small, private liberal arts colleges. Founded by the Franciscan Friars, Siena focuses on developing both competency and compassion. A state-of-the-art library and science building are only two of the many new facilities developed at Siena to provide students with a unique liberal arts education. The college also recently completed construction of a new residence hall, creative arts venues, a student union, and athletic facilities. Approximately 360 students and 90 staff members are expected to attend each session.
From the CTY catalog
Loudonville is a site at Siena College, a Roman Catholic school near Albany, New York. There are crucifixes in nearly every room. However, there none in the dorm rooms. They even have monks, and there are resident friars on the third floor of the girls' dorm. They were seen at a rate of about one per day. Grass orgies were banned because it was "offensive" to the friars.
The college staff ride around on golf carts. The cafeteria staff writes notices such as, "PLEASE PLACE SILVERWEAR DOWN THE SHOOT!!!" at the conveyor belt for "done" trays.
Freshman orientation and soccer camp happen during Session 1, much to the dismay of incoming conservative, religious, sports-y freshmen who are present on Fairy Princess Day, most of whom probably scored lower on their SATs than most CTYers. High school girls' basketball camp happens during Session 2.
This is the only site where it is not encouraged to chant "DIE! DIE! DIE!" during American Pie, in deference to a suicide that happened at the site several years ago. This tradition has become less and less prevalent during Session 1, however.
The RAs' rooms are usually huge. The bookstore is comfy, but there's often a line. There's a butt-shaped stone heart in the middle of the academic quad, where students are not allowed to sit.
Dorms
On the last day, the girls and boys get to visit each other's dorms. If you're a girl, you might still want to bring that electric fan and desk lamp so some guy in your class can borrow them for the session. Some people refer to the site as "sexist" for this reason.
Padua Hall
The girls' dorm. The rooms are nice, clean, air-conditioned, have nice carpets, and have single bathrooms (no communal showers). The rooms are about the size of a huge bathroom on the third floor, which is still tiny for a dorm room. There is a vent expelling hot air out the building.
In 2004, Padua was supposedly under construction, so girls stayed in Hines.
Ryan Hall
The boys' dorm. The rooms aren't as nice as Padua Hall's, especially the basement, which smells. Not one room in Ryan is air-conditioned. Ryan Hall also has many fire doors, making it quite the maze. It's said that every fire door brings a new smell. Some girls have remarked that Ryan Hall resembles a prison.
Hines
In 2004, girls stayed in Hines. It was still better than Ryan but much worse than Padua, with no individual showers. The boys stayed in Hines in 2008.
Activities
Activities at Loudonville were variable in quality, but they were often at least entertaining. Memorable activities have included Man Talk, run by the infamous Charles Brown in 07.1.
In 08.2, there was a weekly activity run by Shea for PDA, but the site director made him change it. Instead, "Speed Chess" was born, a seemingly innocent but deadly metaphor for relationships, such as, "What do I do if I want to play the next level of Speed Chess?" or, "How can I play Speed Chess faster?"
RAs and Staff
Loudonville was probably the only site where there were no mainstays on the faculty and staff front. Most RAs and staff (with the occasional exception of instructional staff) stayed for only one summer, and perhaps even for just one session. A formal reason was never cited, though most former staff members complained about it being a rather unharmonious environment.
There are always those staff members that are appreciated, however, even if their tenure is short. In 07.2, a war brewed between the two factions of Mengites and Dermites, rallying behind RAs Meng Cheng and Dermot, respectively. Both sides engaged in covert attacks on the other. The Dermites even went so far as to steal Meng's pillars. All this culminated in the Mengites' eventual defeat at the hands of the superior Dermites.
One RA at 08.1, Wes, had a band (The Wes Side) named after him that played at the talent show as the last performance.
Tradition
Loudonville was one of the youngest sites; it opened in its present location in 2002. As a result, tradition was somewhat variable, due to the site's young age and the near-absence of returners in recent years. Positions were practically nonexistent. The three in existence (at Session 1) are:
Dan the Man's Sunglasses
See Hall of Fame. The current holder did not return to 08.1.
- 2005: Dan the Man
- 2006: Dan
- 2007: Will
The Holder of the Deck
A deck of cards made of stray cards found around campus, traditionally passed from a nevermore to a squirrel. It is difficult to know when this position was actually begun because such a long time passes between each new holder of the deck.
Emperor/Empress
A nevermore position charged with maintaining Loudonville's tradition.
Session 1
- Becca (LOU.08.1)
- (Dan) (LOU was closed before Dan could take his position, but he would have been the Emperor for LOU.09.1)
Session 2
(Starting at Hamilton College and ending in Loudonville):
- Lyn
- Griff
- Andy, "Spork"
- Emily
- Max
- Pippa
- Hugh, then to Mittman (Unfortunately, Hugh was unable to return to Session 2 and had to pass the triphallus to Mittman during the school year.)
- Julia
- Catrina
- Christie
- Allison. The Loudonville site was tragically closed before she could come to power. She would have been the Empress of 2009.
Loudonville did, however, have a well-defined Canon and a number of traditional films shown on weekends.
Students
- HeyaShreya
- waansleyvark
- zimzil
- juliadomna
- Starr
- laur
- Georgiaphoboia
- Kakofonous
- iamthequeenofmaoiwin
- KaiYotiC
- LordZeebmork
- Kattheawesome
- Charlie McGeorge
- Rourke
- CTYgirl - 07.1
- Flippylittledolphin
- paulkimpaul (one year of four)
- Jessica D
- Mr.gn - 08.1
- Tori M - 08.2
- Pahhwenaz - 08.1.LOGC
- Austin P
- Christie B
- Emily L-07.2
- Aaron Kroeber - 07.1.LOGC
- Hannah Jiang-Fan - 06.1.INBS, 07.1.BIOL
- Cordelia 08.2.IROB (baby)
- greatgreencoat 08.1.EXIT
- Jennifer Lin 08.2 BSEN
Reunions
- Black Friday—Friday after Thanksgiving on the steps of the Museum of Natural History (New York City), noon.
