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"If every day were Fox Day..."

April 23, 2007

The statue of the fox at Rollins

The first thing I became aware of was girls’ voices. Loud. Excited. Shrill. I cracked my eyes open. Dark shadows still hid our room. It was definitely before 7 a.m., maybe even before six. I closed my eyes again and rolled over, determined to ignore the voices, which now formed distinct words: “It’s Fox Day! It’s Fox Day!” Quick footsteps echoed up and down the hall as the news spread. I was still unwilling to surrender sleep. My roommates seemed to feel the same: Though I’d heard them both stirring, neither of them showed any signs of getting out of bed. Then there was a knock on the door, a sharp, insistent, get-up-it’s-Fox-Day-you’re-not-staying-in-bed kind of knock. Rachel climbed down to answer the door, and there stood Dani, the RA, her words delivering the same message as her knock. Defeated, Rachel, Aimee, and I threw on clothes and joined the crowds heading outside.

Thus began my very first Fox Day. For those who don’t know, Fox Day is a Rollins tradition dating back to the 1950s. Each year, the president chooses a day late in the spring semester and places a statue of a fox at the base of the flagpole on Mills Lawn, signaling that all classes and campus activities are cancelled for the day. As the spring semester dwindles, with exams drawing near and papers piling up, students start longing for Fox Day. Most go to the beach, but we’re free to use the day as we please. In the evening, everyone—students, faculty, and their families—gathers back on Mills Lawn for a barbecue.

The fox sits at the base of the flagpole in the center of Mills Lawn.

I did not go to the beach. Sun and sand just aren’t really my thing, and I burn like crazy. I actually spent the whole morning writing a paper. Lame, I know, but I finished the paper, easing my workload for the next week, which was overloaded with work. What does it say about me that I spent my first real free day of the semester writing a paper? . . . Anyway, even if I chose ivory skin tone over sunburn-pink, I did have some fun on Fox Day. I went out to lunch, then wandered down Park Avenue and into Origins, a shop I’d never entered before. Origins sells natural makeup and skin care products, and I indulged in a free mini-facial followed by a makeup application session. I left feeling pampered and pleased with my discovery.

When I got back from Origins, Aimee and Sameera, one of our adopted roommates, were watching Clue. Not long after I returned, people started trickling back from the beach. A tangible relaxation seemed to lay gently over Rollins, as if some long-standing tension had finally been released. It’s been a long semester.

I’ve always liked the concept of Fox Day, but I’ll admit I was initially skeptical of it in practice. I thought it would throw off my rhythm and render the rest of the week useless. But after seeing how productive I was Fox Day morning, while also having the time to enjoy myself in the afternoon, I’m beginning to wish we had a couple more Fox Days before the end of the semester. Considering how much work I have left and the mounting stress that accompanies finals, I could definitely use it. And from what I’ve heard from my friends and classmates, I’m not the only one.

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