Adams Throws Chocoholica Fest

Chocolate. Lots of it. It is the essential ingredient for "Chocoholica," a mysterious Adams House Valentine's Day party. On Saturday night, while most students are exchanging carnations and candy hearts, Adams residents and their guests will enjoy chocolate and a little decadence.

But this isn't any ordinary chocolate.

"They may have chocolate penises. They have erotically shaped objects," says Adams resident Novisi Atadika '99.

In past years, Adams House residents dipped strawberries in melted chocolate in the dimly lit and appropriately decorated Senior Common Room, while students in costume served the sensuous sweets to the guests.

"In the past it's been sort of orgiastic. That's why the lights are dim," Atadika says. "It has the reputation of being lascivious. Last year nothing happened.... The House has really changed."

Atadika says that now, there are "lots of jocks" in Adams House. In the past, she said the people who attended Chocoholica were "really artsy" and "gothic."

"They were just more experimental," Atadika says.

Although the party has changed with the randomization of Adams House residents, many students say they still enjoy the unique event.

"It's actually well done," says David A. Boyajian '99. "It was Adams House students who were serving the chocolate. Women were dressed as French maids and the men were wearing tuxes."

Anne D. Browning '00, who has not attended the party, says she heard that it involved "lots of chocolate" and "semi-nudity."

"People were eating chocolate off of each other," according to another resident.

Despite accounts of Chocoholica traveling by word of mouth, it is still clouded in mystery.

Adams House Master and Loker Professor of English Robert J. Kiely would only say, "It's great fun. They serve all kinds of goodies."

Adams House Committee Chair Alfred E. Alden '99 also declined to comment on the party.

While those outside of Adams House are kept in the dark about Chocoholica, Adams residents says they feel the party preserves part of the unique Adams House character that existed before randomization.

"I think that it just has that little bit of Adams House in it. It isn't the same, but at the same time, it's fun and it keeps the House alive," says Elizabeth A. Buzney '99.