Students, Faculty Examine Dorm Stereotypes

While stereotypes have been attached to various dorms for years, the disparity in the sexualization of female dorms and male dorms has become evident through an examination by The Exonian of sexual culture at Exeter. Girls dorms’ stereotypes, in particular, tend to encourage the objectification of their inhabitants, while boys dorms’ stereotypes tend to be centered around the personalities of the boys themselves.

The Exonian interviewed students and faculty affiliated with Wheelwright, Langdell, Merrill, Soule and Wentworth to examine the effects of the various stereotypes connected to these dorms and to analyze the disparities and similarities between dorm stereotypes.

Langdell Hall, Wheelwright Hall and Merrill Hall each have catch-phrases associated with them, “Langdell bangs well,” “Wheelwright real tight” and “Sterile Merrill,” respectively. They all reference the supposed sexual tendencies of the students in the dorms.

“Stereotypes are often unfair or untrue beliefs that spread through rumor or conversation.”

Senior Bronwyn Shields of Merrill Hall felt that while the nicknames could be entertaining, in light of sexual tensions on campus they are in bad taste. “It really is unfortunate that the dorm nicknames are sexually focused,” she said.

Lower Lily Friedland, who lives in Wheelwright Hall, noted the danger that comes with attaching sexual stereotypes to a dorm, as the reputation of a student could be damaged, even if minorly or subconsciously, upon introduction. “[The dorm stereotypes] introduce ignorant assumptions about people sexually the second someone introduces themselves,” she said.

Senior Lucy Weiler of Langdell Hall also noted the threat to dorm residents as a result of the stereotypes associated with their dorms. “The unfortunate aspect of dorm nicknames, however, comes not from the people in the dorms but from the perspective of an outsider,” she said.

Wheelwright dorm head and history instructor Molly MacKean saw a problem with the nicknames, less because of the sexual innuendos they may convey, but rather because she believed that students should be seen for their current selves, and not marked with the supposed reputations of former dorm members. “It is important that the students in any dormitory work together to deliberately create their own culture every year,” MacKean explained.

Some members of these girls dorms, however, have begun to reclaim these stereotypes. Friedland had thought that at first, the phrase “Wheelwright real tight” was a reference to the dorm’s unity. Even when some pointed out the negative connotation of the phrase, she continued to embrace the more positive interpretation. “We just embraced [the phrase Wheelwright real tight] full on,” she said.

Senior Mahesh Kumar of Soule Hall agreed with Friedland that “Some dorms are trying to reclaim their stereotypes like, ‘Sterile Merrill’ almost as if a power [source].”

These phrases have also begun to be taken with a more humorous light. Weiler noted the reclaiming of these nicknames as identifiers by girls from their attached dorms. “I can always use Langdell’s [stereotype] for comic relief,” she said.

On the other hand, stereotypes surrounding boys’ dorms typically concern the supposed behavioral tendencies of their residents. For example, Soule Hall can carry a connotation of being prone to hazing, while Wentworth Hall is commonly thought of as a jock’s dorm.

Upper Joel Lotzkar noted that in his dorm, Wentworth Hall’s stereotype did not encompass all the boys who reside there. “While there are quite a few athletes in Wentworth, the guys here are smart and are involved in many other things at the school,” he said.

Upper Graham Rutledge, also a resident of Wentworth Hall, believed that the stereotype should be taken lightheartedly. “I’ve been in a class where I’ve introduced the dorm I’m in and gotten looks. But it’s not a big deal; I don't feel oppressed,” he said.

Rutledge further explained what he believed to be the origin of the stereotype, attributing its prevalence to the dorm’s history and the visibility of athletes on campus. “There’s a history of alumni who were athletes, and also the people who are most noticed around campus from Wentworth happen to be jocks,” he said.

Concerning the stereotype of Soule being prone to hazing, Kumar was frustrated by the endurance of the connotation and the resulting negative attachment with the dorm. He said, “Regardless of how much work we put in, it’s still being perpetuated … It’s just not a very positive way to portray the dorm.”

Despite their dorm affiliation, many of the people interviewed believed that the stereotypes attached to various dorms do not represent the dorm as a whole.

Referring to her dorm, Langdell Hall, Weiler brought up how stereotypes are inherently unreliable due to the sheer number of people in each dorm. “Dorm stereotypes are intrinsically inaccurate, since dorms have 40  plus girls living in them, and their nicknames are probably referring to four or five,” she said.

Referencing the idea that hazing is common in Soule, dorm head Tyler Caldwell made clear that he believed most stereotypes to be inaccurate and hurtful. He said, “Stereotypes are often unfair or untrue beliefs that spread through rumor or conversation.”

MacKean believed that the culture of a dorm is governed by the current residents rather than any stereotype or catchphrase associated with the dorm.

“I believe that a dormitory belongs to the students who live there now, unbeholden to any sense of tradition or reputation from the past,” she said.