<p>Purple cow.</p>
<p>Anybody but me have "James Clay Hunt" stories?</p>
<p>In no particular order ...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Moutain Day -- pretty cool that tons of folks take a break from school to climb mountains. Even for the cynics, the a capella and cider at the top of Pine Cobble on a gorgeous fall day is inspiring.</p></li>
<li><p>The Williams College Debate Union -- a very cool concept, bringing in big-time (at times) guest speakers to debate issues with students and faculty.</p></li>
<li><p>Definitely the Junior Advisor system, and the fact that JA's are totally uncompensated, yet competition for spots is still highly competitive.</p></li>
<li><p>I'll chime in on Winter Study. Why have an extra three weeks vacation when you can be hanging with your friends in a low-stress setting while exploring really quirky / nontraditional academic options. </p></li>
<li><p>Pappa Charlie's Deli and The Purple Pub. Neither change much, and neither ever get old. Great places to visit as an alum.</p></li>
<li><p>"The Walk" up Spring Street to St. Pierre's after homecoming football wins.</p></li>
<li><p>WCFM Trivia contests -- which I will maintain, until my death, is the coolest college tradition in the country. Where else would people stay up all night days before finals, screwing up study patterns for the week, just to answer impossibly arcane questions and act in truly bizarre skits? </p></li>
<li><p>Purple Cow -- coolest mascot in the country (and beats the hell out of the "Lord Jeff")</p></li>
<li><p>The Williams/Amherst rivalry, in both athletics and academics. Makes for numerous big events on campus, guaranteed, every year. </p></li>
<li><p>The (recently expanded) tutorial program -- a truly unique feature of the Williams academic experience. </p></li>
<li><p>The math department and the amazing success of math undergrads and recent grads.</p></li>
<li><p>MassMoca five minutes from campus. Each exhibit there tops the previous, and they have lots of great performances as well. Underutilized by current students in my view. The current spate of exhibits are truly incredible, in particular, the Matthew Ritchie exhibit and the car exhibit in the enormous gallery. But really, the museum is currently packed full of amazingly creative artists. My favorite museum. </p></li>
<li><p>Three IM hoops leagues (for men); no matter what your ability, you can find the perfect competition level.</p></li>
<li><p>Meeting Williams alums and never being disappointed in the reaction -- there is a special bond, and we're almost always psyched to trade stories / personal history / mutual acquaintances. Even on-line, with Ephblog -- not many other small schools have alumni displaying that type of passion for and interest in their alma mater. </p></li>
<li><p>The Log, Goodrich, and soon, the new Baxter -- three very cool gathering places on campus, all with totally different vibes. </p></li>
<li><p>Being able to simultaneously claim the most Rhodes Scholars, most impressive group of athletic alumni, most impressive group of alums in the art world, most NSF fellows, and most CEO's of any liberal arts school -- in other words, balance between academics, athletics, art, commerce, not to mention, socialization. Williams is definitely a school where being well-rounded is more highly valued that being the best at one narrow arena of inquiry.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Ephman - what a GREAT list! I'd add the Clark Art Museum, Taconic golf course (for golf and cross-country skiing even if you've never done either before), Winter Carnival, Jiminy Peak (and Brodie back in my day) on a Winter Study afternoon, Art History 101 and the grilled honeybuns at the old Baxter snackbar, but I think your list is very comprehensive. Do people still go swimming at "The Tubs"? For me, spending two summers in Williamstown to do research at the Bronfman Science Center was a incredible experience too. I think that program has really expanded today.</p>
<p>I also like the sheriff who opens each Williams graduation ceremony, and how each graduation ends with him pounding his staff and proclaiming "God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts". For some reason this made me smile each time I heard it.</p>
<p>I'm going to have to check out these swimming spots this summer. Where are "The Tubs" and Roaring Brook?</p>
<p>The Tubs are north of Williamstown - I think in Pownal or thereabouts.</p>
<p>Yeah, I never knew of anyone to go to those. If they're still around, I'll have to check them out next time I'm in town. Definitely winter carnival is a good addition -- and, in particular, the house snow sculputure contest associated with the carnival. If they still have it, musicfest was great -- a ton of bands playing on nice spring days, with folks consuming, ahem alternative beverages in designated areas. Though with the recent crack-down on campus drinking, I would guess that drinking outdoors (even in fenced in areas adjacent to houses) is a big no-no.</p>
<p>Roaring Brook is on the road south of town headed towards Pittsfield. It is an icy, and I mean ICY, cold mountain stream that forms a small crystal clear pool just deep enough to jump off small adjacent cliff.</p>
<p>It's on private property up in the woods. I'm not really sure about the legality of swimming there.</p>
<p>The Moo-Cow Marching Band! and the fact that the College still remembers Yo-Yo.</p>
<p>Yo-Yo the dog?! I remember him in the snack bar. I think it's great that his photo will go back up in the new snack bar.</p>
<p>Isn't his photo with the Bishop of Florida currently?</p>
<p>Mini--did you know the actual (and not just picture of) Yo-Yo?</p>
<p>Yes, I think his photo is being well-cared for until the new snack bar goes up.</p>
<p>I knew the real Yo-Yo, though he spent most of his time asleep on one of the benches in the snack bar during my time. He was a grumpy old dog by then but he was still loved. In his earlier years he was apparently all over campus, frequently appearing at football games.</p>
<p>I knew the REAL Yo-Yo. I had a competing animal - Paxton Quigley III, named after the male character is the movie about "Willard College" "Three in the Attic". Yo-you was a grouchy dog, even when he was young, but he had "character", and he got first pick of the benches in the Baxter snackbar.</p>