This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Bates chapter.
10 Reasons Why Puddle Jump is the Best/Worst Day Ever
Each winter students at Bates College cut a hole in the middle of Lake Andrews, a.k.a the Puddle. After a long day of drinking, in honor of Paul Newman, students jump into the water in sub-freezing conditions. You can say it’s the best and worst of times.
1. 24 beers in 24 hours. That is all.
2. Beer and eggs make a weird but ok combination.
3. People worry about hypothermia, yet wear very little (or no) clothing.
4. People are always concerned with getting sick from Puddle Jump.. or worse from “Poodle Jump.”
5. Paul Newman himself wrote to Bates College to have Newman Day renamed, but here we are years later still celebrating. Sorry about it.
6. You have to shower with cold water first and then hot water so all that puddle scum doesn’t seep into your pores. Super gross.
7. Bates College finally gets to take over the NESCAC Snapchat story.
And for the record… It was fantastic!
8. You have to run back to your dorm/house soaking wet and freezing.
9. The night ends with Late Night Breakfast in Commons. It’s fantastic but most people don’t make it for reasons described above.
10. We’re all in it together. At the end of the day, strange traditions like these are what makes Bates and our classmates so special.
Happy Puddle Jump & Newman Day Bobcats! And may the odds be ever in your favor…
Puddle Jump photo credit: Bates Photography Club