<p>Due to Caltech's academic rigor? Though I don't know how long shaving actually takes since I don't shave. But I'm wondering if this results in more Caltech students neglecting to waste their time on such a thing and temporarily allowing their appearance to change.</p>
<p>While I'm not a Caltech student, I can tell you that I'm sure it goes both ways. Shaving only takes a short while, and amazingly Caltech students "do" occasionally do things other than study. Of course, if Ride</a> of the Valkyries is playing and they're doing some last minute cramming, I wouldn't expect them to take time to shave.</p>
<p>That said, from what I've heard, Caltech is quite accepting of all types. There's really no such thing as a well defined 'typical' Caltech student, so choices like these definitely depend on the individual's priorities.</p>
<p>It's up to you, of course, how long you spend on any type of personal care and grooming. Caltech is certainly not so rigorous that people can't find time to shower and do other basic maintenance, and most people I've met don't smell. Of course, expectations about such things vary between houses.</p>
<p>P.S. Ride traditions are only observed by one hovse.</p>
<p>and it's BLACKER HOVSE! :-D</p>
<p>It's played during finals weeks in several of the other houses, but if a frosh tries to provoke a reaction by playing it during the rest of the term, they'll be disappointed.</p>
<p>No one actually is so busy, except maybe all of those physics, ChemE, and EE triple majors out there, that they don't have a free sixty seconds or whatever to shave daily. Now, that showering thing is a bit of a time sink, and you can't even read while doing it, and yet most people still manage to do it daily. The real trick is to be thinking about a proof while doing it so you don't feel like you're wasting your time (I might be kidding...)</p>
<p>Also, another good reason to shower: The punishment for playing The Ride is being showered. Thus, the only logical thing to do is to whistle it loudly while taking a shower. They can't touch you!</p>
<p>Llama, just because you're a physics, ChemE, EE triple major doesn't mean you can't shower. I'm tired of spraying you with air freshener! (hehe jk :) )</p>
<p>I shave and shower, Caltech is actually reasonable as long as you don't overload too much in terms of units.</p>
<p>Although Ramsfan is saying this as a freshman on pass/fail... that being said, I don't know anyone here who doesn't have time for hygiene, so his point is probably valid (I can't really evaluate it either as I am also a freshman on pass/fail).</p>
<p>Really, they have those emergency lab showers with the hope that you'll spill HF on yourself daily. Nothing to worry about.</p>
<p>I always wondered, is water in emergency showers warm? (I had a chance at a local college's lab when they left me alone in there, but I blew it)</p>
<p>Curiosity killed the cat.</p>
<p>^ I just realized how literally true that is(via Schrodinger).</p>
<p>"It's played during finals weeks in several of the other [non-Blacker] houses, but if a frosh tries to provoke a reaction by playing it during the rest of the term, they'll be disappointed."</p>
<p>I dispute that, at least "when I was a frosh" and offer the following photographic evidence of what a group of Lloyd freshmen could expect from playing The Ride:</p>
<p>Of course, this was all back in the "good old days" of ca. 2000.</p>
<p>EDIT: Darn I was skinny then.</p>
<p>EDIT II: To address the point of the thread, yes, I shaved, though occasionally I'd skip a day if I was in a rush in the morning (getting in the shower was much more important to me). I'm blond so it didn't matter that much.</p>
<p>As you said, that was 2000. As a member of the same house, I can tell you that hasn't been true for two or three years now. I can remember several incidents where frosh played the ride and no one stopped them.</p>
<p>That's too bad. I'm really sorry to hear that the old house spirit is leaking away. All part of the Dabney-fication of Lloyd House, I suppose. </p>
<p>Ben, back in "my day" The Ride would've got you showered in Fleming too... don't tell me that's changed too?</p>
<p>P.S. I thought you'd graduated a couple of years ago too, alleya? Perhaps things have improved in that time!</p>
<p>You should come back and visit sometime Joe! I live in Red Delicious, the frosh room right next to the coed bathroom in tropic.</p>
<p>Edit: Hey, hey! There's no dabney-fication! I got showered like two or three times last term!!!</p>
<p>I think Lloyd likes to focus on abusing their president more than any other House. They don't have time for the frosh!</p>
<p>
Edit: Hey, hey! There's no dabney-fication! I got showered like two or three times last term!!!
</p>
<p>Do you remember how many times we tried to pond you just during Rotation? ;)</p>
<p>Joe -- hmm, I haven't tried, but if I were a frosh I'm pretty sure I would not stay dry -- any excuse will do, as you know. There should be some kind of controlled study done throughout the houses.</p>
<p>Lizzardfire, that is excellent to hear--and as for visiting, I will be back to begin knocking out the PhD this fall (pending acceptance, but I got in back in '04 and this time around also have fellowship support, so I am not too worried). In my day, though, we didn't have a "red delicious" OR a "coed bathroom in Tropic". :-)</p>
<p>Ben, good to know that the world has not come to an end. The Ride is one of those traditions that should not die.</p>