SPENCER OSWALD/Assistant Photo Editor
WILLIAM ADAMS and SAMANTHA BLONS
Staff Writer and Assistant News Editor
Rival teams were shaken (and stirred) when the freshmen from Darnell and Eaton dorms took to the floor at Firestone Fieldhouse with their spirited “James Bond” themed skit telling the story of the university’s founder, George Pepperdine.
“We worked really hard,” said freshman Emily Richardson, a member of the winning team. “It was fun to watch everyone else.”
With performers clad in black and white, the performance included a flautist playing the famous “James Bond” theme song and a choreographed dance number.
Frosh Follies has been a Pepperdine tradition for 16 years — a highlight of orientation for many freshmen.
Freshman R.A.s began preparing scripts for the event even before new students arrived on campus. But the stars of the show were the incoming freshmen, who practiced their lines, dances and chants for hours during the last three days of NSO.
“Even though I am only a tree [in the show,] my veins pump with an excitement unlike any I have ever experienced,” said freshman Kyle Cleveland in the hours leading up to Frosh Follies. “I am ready to show my pride for Phillips and Connor.”
The teams consisted of two to four dorms and were judged on categories such as spirit, participation and adherence to the rules.
The panel of judges included Seaver Dean David Baird, Dean of Students Mark Davis and Doug Hurley, director of student activities.
The Crocker, J. Pengilly and Knott dorms won both the spirit competition and second place overall. The Alpha, Beta, Banowsky and Pauley dorms placed third.
Resident Director Todd Ormsby said Frosh Follies was a “good opportunity for students to come out, show school spirit and just make new friends.”
More than just incoming freshmen were showing school spirit in Firestone Fieldhouse on Saturday night. Returning students and upperclassmen joined their new classmates to watch the festivities from the stands. Many of them reminisced about their own Frosh Follies experiences.
“It was a lot of fun last year, and we won,” remembered sophomore Kim Wong, who lives in Alpha, a freshman dorm, and came to cheer on her suitemates.
Sophomore Lauren Wilhelm also came to watch some friends who were participating in the show.
“It’s fun to watch other people look silly,” Wilhelm said.
After the winners were announced, the performers and many of the audience members filed up the stairs to the after-party in the Waves Café, which included live music and food.
Check out this video of Frosh Follies:
08-27-2007