Balloons, Bananas, Cheerleaders, Fight-Songs Fill Freshman Union at Yale-Game Pep Rally

"Die You Gravy-Sucking Bulldogs," read the crimson banner above the Union mantlepiece. "Impale Yale" proclaimed hundreds of crimson baseball caps. "Lock Yale in the Stocks" declared thousands of crimson placards. And as a swarm of crimson balloons soared to the ceiling of the Freshman Union at yesterday's Yale game pep rally, one word characterized the scene, and it was not "blue."

"The rally is really great for school spirit." Julie Friedli '84, moderator of the Freshman Council, said yesterday. The Freshman Council organized the pep rally--the second this fall and the second at Harvard in 12 years.

Ivy Confines

James W. Stoeckel '74, coordinator of athletics, and a former Harvard quarterback, opened the rally with a short speech. "We just got a call from President Giamatti at Yale--the Yalies aren't going to be able to make it; they all had to sit remedial reading exams," he said, adding, "it's time to bring in the Yale bulldog and bite his head off."

Next, to cries of "smut" and the clatter of forks on trays, cheerleaders ran through their rendition of a "wild Indian dance," flinging each other about like so many butter-pats at a Union food fight.

Children

"I don't know who these cheerleaders are, but I'd love to meet their older sister," said Steven Price '84. "Adolescence was great the first time," he added, "It's even better now."

Burriss Young '55, associate dean of Freshmen, watched from a safe distance in the Union lobby. "The rally's a great idea," he said, adding, "I hope the damn balloons don't go up to the ceiling."

Your Mission...

Meanwhile, in the quiet seclusion of the Union rotunda, four freshmen spoke in conspiratorial tones of their plans for the evening. "We've decided that the philosophy Yale represents is a threat to the free world," said one, who asked not to be identified. "And so we're driving down to Yale tonight to cover the campus with giant H's," he added.

The last word at the rally, however, came from Douglas Gollin '84, a diehard Yale fan, "I think these people should all get jobs," he said, unzipping his sweatshirt to reveal a well-worn navy-blue tee-shirt.

Evaporation

After 15 minutes of relentless pepping the Union quieted and most freshmen turned back to their turkey.

Friedli said however, that the festivities will resume tonight when the Harvard Glee Club, dressed in tux and tails, come to the Union for a concert of fight songs.