Tea and Crumpets

When the sun shines down on campus and Exonians in floral dresses and dapper blazers crowd the Exeter quads, it is clear that dorm tea season has arrived once again.Every spring, with only a couple weeks of school left, several dorms host “teas,” or relaxed parties that allow for dorm mates to dress up, invite dates, eat delicious food, play fun games and unwind on a nice Sunday afternoon. The activities range from bocce ball to croquet, and some teas even feature hor d'oeuvres from popular restaurants.“For tea we play croquet, bocce ball and bean bag toss,” lower Ashley Baxter, a resident of Wheelwright Hall, said. “We have a spring theme this year. Our tea is a bonding experience for all the girls in Wheelwright—between getting ready, picking our dates and playing games at the event, it is a great opportunity to come together as a group of over forty girls.”Other teas, such as McConnell’s, will be hosted at one dorm member’s house and offer other fun pastimes for tea-goers.“Our tea is being organized by next year’s proctors, and we might get pizza from the Flatbread Company; it will be held at the Russ's,” lower Alix Hunter said. “Last year we had coloring books and a foosball table.”No matter what the tea is like, almost all of those in attendance see it as a great way to enjoy the balmy weather, bond with other dorm members and train the new proctors, many of whom organize the teas.“Having a tea almost is a tradition at this point and it serves as a social event for our dorm as well as dorm bounding,” Hunter said. “I would not say that a tea party has affected my time here in a dramatic way, they are just something fun to look forward to in the spring, and a chance to dress up nicely.”Lower Stajz Saar shared a similar opinion.“We have a tea because it is a fun way to bond with the girls you live with outside of the dorm and socialize,” Saar said. “It is also fun to get dressed up and take pictures with friends and dates.”Although almost everyone enjoys these annual events, there are a few pitfalls that can affect party-goers.“Dorms have teas because it gives people something to look forward to and makes it seem like the proctors are doing something,” Toole said. “It is not important to have a tea because it can often be a letdown. It stresses many girls out because you have to ask a date, and find a dress which usually ends up having to be ordered online. It is a huge hassle for no reason.”Even with these downsides, it seems that dorm teas boost the energy on campus. At a place like Exeter, where people tend to fall into routines, the events provide an entertaining way to relax, hang out with friends, put on some nice clothes and enjoy the last few days of the year.