"Mill House"

Some people swore that the house was haunted.  Others just thought it was an inevitable series of unfortunate events.  I myself learned first-hand that those who live there experience the same fate year-after-year. 

Senior year I moved into Mill House, one of the oldest houses on campus that had become notorious for its crazy parties and even stranger occurrences.  Not only was the house spacious and located close to campus, it was also perfect for having people over.  Certain rooms were designated as the “DP” room, better known as the dance party room, the card game room which entailed playing king’s cup, up and down the river and president, and the solo cup room which was ideal for beer pong and flip cup.  Every holiday we had a themed party that was very successful in the sense that most people wound up passed out on a couch or the bathroom floor, people woke up with comments written on their faces in permanent marker, and others headed home with new “friends” who swore they were anatomy and physiology majors that needed to complete a homework assignment.

As graduation week approached, my roommates and I were anxious for the big weekend bash.  We were seniors and had the highest expectations for the party.  Failure to “throw down” was not an option.  The bar was to be fully stocked with three kegs, several handles of the cheapest vodka and chasers to make the drinks tolerable, and the “DP” room was to have only the best party music playing.

That Friday night, the typical crowd showed up with their game faces on ready to party.  The keg was tapped, the music playing, and bodies were rocking.  The initial appearance of college students celebrating graduation with friends and few beers quickly turned into the sweaty dance club our house was known for.  People who were once thought of as being “just friends” quickly became attracted to each other knowing BLDs were to follow (Bad Life Decisions), coherent conversations turned into shouting matches over the music and bad ideas to sober people turned into the best ideas ever for those at the party like my roommate lighting a ping pong ball on fire.  As the night progressed and the alcohol ran low, our guests decided to either head home or head downtown to the bars.  Those who stayed were mainly unconscious or barely clothed as a result of losing a bet throughout the night.  Watching all of this I couldn’t believe college was ending.

As the party cleared out, we sat around the kitchen table recapturing the events of the night and college as the sun began to rise.  Graduation was only a few hours away and so was sobriety.  In the next few days we would be moving out and heading home.  We knew this was our last big celebration all together and we toasted one more drink to the years passed.  Nothing was ever the same again after that.