<p>I’m applying to Caltech and am anxiously waiting on the decision, but the other day I saw something kind of disturbing. I was on Wikipedia reading the article on the House System, and it said that the slogan for Ricketts House was “F*** God Dead”!! Another website repeated this, and shows it’s House logo as being an upside down cross. I have to say, I’m a little freaked out. Is this really true? Is there like a big anti-religious attitude at Caltech? Are there any houses for “good” people?</p>
<p>No, there isn’t a big anti-religious attitude at Caltech. There are numerous churches within walking distance of campus, which a lot of students attend on the weekends. In fact, several Ricketts people are regular churchgoers. </p>
<p>It’s simply a slogan intended for amusement and fun, nothing more.</p>
<p>FGD isn’t any sort of “official” Hovse slogan. And it’s more a general “anti-establishment” slogan than any specific insult to Christianity, and certainly without any malicious intent.</p>
<p>Also, the Hovse symbol isn’t an upside-down cross, it’s (unofficially, I believe) a pentagram.</p>
<p>It’s one house out of 8. Each is different. Don’t judge Tech as a whole based on one house. And even if the CCF isn’t the largest, it’s definately one of the most active clubs on campus.</p>
<p>“It’s simply a slogan intended for amusement and fun, nothing more.”</p>
<p>I also have wondered about some of the crudeness of some of the house web sites. You would think with all the bright people there, someone could be a little more creative without being vulgar.</p>
<p>Being capable in the maths and sciences has nothing to do with a person’s level of vulgarity. What did you expect, a cloister full of nuns and monks who study holy textbooks like Purcell and Dummit/Foote 14 hours a day? This is college, and I would be very dissapointed if people here were as averse to telling jokes, going out, and having a good time as a 400 pound middle aged female virgin. </p>
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<p>I wish I knew. Supposedly, they’ll still be under renovation during first term, but may be finished by second or third term of next year.</p>
<p>GracieLegend- Please let’s not get personal. How did you know my sex, weight & sexual activities? Have you been fantasizing? Sorry I digress.</p>
<p>This discussion started out with a question re: the slogan on the one house F*** God Dead. Whatever that means. That is one of the issues. Why is it an issue? Because what is posted on a site is reflective of the house and to a certain degree to those in control of the site and those who live there. Has nothing to do with absolute right vs. absolute wrong or who has the power or authority to post of not to post. It is more of a PR issue. Many people, including prospective students and their friends and relatives will visit the sites trying to get a heads up on the house system. I think (read opinion) that using the F word especially it the same phrase as God sends a message, maybe one you want to send and maybe one you don’t intend to send. Evidently at least one other person perceived a message there that concerned them. Maybe the phrase/slogan is just high schoolish. Nevertheless, taken a face value, it is common and base. (opinion) and at the very least invites a harmless discussion.</p>
<p>When I was a prospective student, I was also quite concerned by the house culture that I perceived–the rampant drinking and some crudeness (eg vulgarity). After all, this is Caltech, home of the smartest students in the world. I still remember when I expected the students’ humor and writings to be reflective of this intelligence.</p>
<p>After 4 terms, I don’t worry as much about it, though. The first reason is that other things in life have taken priority over the image that I portray (and I think Caltech’s good name is solidified enough that there’s no reason to worry). And the flip side is that you’re really confident in Caltech’s prestigious name, and you want to have some fun, playing on what most people expect you to be like. </p>
<p>I still remember when I visited during prefrosh weekend and thought to myself, “Wow, if I were a recruiter for a company, I really wouldn’t think that these people are particularly smart” based on their sometimes perverse sense of fun.</p>
<p>On the note of prefrosh weekend, be SURE to talk to as varied a crowd as you can. Obviously, the more outgoing types will usually be the ones to voice their opinions, while some of the more introverted ones (and who enjoy staying in their rooms all day doing problem sets) will continue staying in their rooms throughout prefrosh weekend. I think this comment on prefrosh weekend is also analogous to what you see online.</p>
<p>Yes, I can have my own opinion, and you will have yours. I don’t think I’m being defensive. In your post you say:</p>
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<p>Your opinion of what is “crude” might be extremely different from what anyone thinks. But you take no interest in that, instead connecting “bright” with “not crude” and desiring these students to stop being “crude.” My post simply states that your sensibilties don’t apply to others. If anything, your third post is extremely defensive.</p>
<p>I have just found out that, “In 2005, the administration pressured Ricketts to make their website private because many of the pictures and quotes on the website were considered to be potentially offensive”. </p>
<p>Obviously, the more outgoing types will usually be the ones to voice their opinions, while some of the more introverted ones (and who enjoy staying in their rooms all day doing problem sets) will continue staying in their rooms throughout prefrosh weekend. I think this comment on prefrosh weekend is also analogous to what you see online.</p>
<p>It is true, although I don’t think the pictures were the problem. There was a collection of quotes that house members had said which other people found amusing. Since these were self-submitted, and without any sort of censoring mechanism, many of them were on the… risque/offensive side. Especially for the administrators who want to preserve a completely pristine image of Caltech for the outside world.</p>