Difference between revisions of "John Jay trays"

From WikiCU
Jump to: navigation, search
(Elimination)
 
(9 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[Image:Trayscribe.jpg|thumb|300px|Sample etching]]
 
[[Image:Trayscribe.jpg|thumb|300px|Sample etching]]
  
The blue trays used in the [[John Jay Dining Hall]]. Although seemingly uninteresting, the blue trays have taken a life of their own over the years. Many of the trays have been inscribed with tray puns, leaving future tray users with a bit of wit and humor to enjoy their freshman fifteen inducing meals with. Examples of tray carvings include an image of "Tray Guevara", "John Tray", "Sexual Frustraytion", "Traydo-Masochism", etc. More images of tray art can be found on [[The Bwog]][http://www.bwog.net/publicate/index.php?page=post&article_id=1444].
+
The '''John Jay Dining Hall trays''' were once a distinct part of the Columbia undergraduate 'student life' sub-culture.  
  
The trays, in addition to the graffiti, have been popularized as makeshift sleds for sledding in [[Riverside Park]] on heavy snow days.
+
== Etchings ==
 +
Before 2008-2009, [[John Jay Dining Hall]] patrons collected the component parts of their meal on plastic/fiberglass cafeteria trays, of the type commonly found in any cafeteria/fast food setting. Over the years, students etched the trays with clever witticisms and images, generally revolving around 'tray' puns. Picking up a tray from the cafeteria line and discovering a new bit of linguistic humor was one of the simple joys that accompanied freshman-fifteen inducing meals. Examples of tray carvings included "Tray Guevara", "John Tray", "Sexual Frustraytion", "Traydo-Masochism", etc. More images of tray art can be found on [[The Bwog]].<Ref>[http://www.bwog.net/publicate/index.php?page=post&article_id=1444]</ref>
  
== Quasi-witty etchings ==
+
Following the 2003-2004 school year, Dining Services replaced all of the trays in John Jay Dining Hall. However, tray puns found their way back onto the new set of trays.
 +
 
 +
=== Quasi-witty etching examples ===
 
* Mothafuckas act like they forgot about Tray.
 
* Mothafuckas act like they forgot about Tray.
 
* Shall I compare thee to a summer's tray?
 
* Shall I compare thee to a summer's tray?
Line 11: Line 14:
 
* She moves in mysterious trays.
 
* She moves in mysterious trays.
 
* Sustaining the grand traydition, one tray at a time.
 
* Sustaining the grand traydition, one tray at a time.
 +
 +
== Sledding ==
 +
In addition to providing a medium for witty expression, students regularly commandeered trays for use as makeshift sleds for use on [[The Steps]] or in [[Riverside Park]] on heavy snow days.
 +
 +
== Elimination ==
 +
Unfortunately, at the start of the 2008-2009 academic year, the trays were permanently removed from John Jay by Columbia University [[Dining Services]], citing environmental benefits due to reduced water and soap consumption, health benefits from a reduction in overeating, and "authentic New York experience," sans trays.
 +
 +
The response has generally been negative due to inconvenience, but there is no indication that these impromptu fiberglass canvases will ever make a comeback to John Jay. The fate of the cleverly carved trays is unknown and Dining Sevices probably missed a golden opportunity to hold a charity auction for some of the more remarkable trays and pay homage to the end of a tradition.
 +
 +
==References==
 +
<references/>
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
*[http://www.bwog.net/publicate/index.php?page=post&article_id=1444 Bwog Piece on Trays]
+
*[http://bwog.com/2006/05/03/tray-spotting/ Bwog's piece "Tray-spotting"]
  
 
[[Category:On-campus dining locations]]
 
[[Category:On-campus dining locations]]
 +
[[Category:Traditions]]

Latest revision as of 13:28, 21 May 2013

Sample etching

The John Jay Dining Hall trays were once a distinct part of the Columbia undergraduate 'student life' sub-culture.

Etchings

Before 2008-2009, John Jay Dining Hall patrons collected the component parts of their meal on plastic/fiberglass cafeteria trays, of the type commonly found in any cafeteria/fast food setting. Over the years, students etched the trays with clever witticisms and images, generally revolving around 'tray' puns. Picking up a tray from the cafeteria line and discovering a new bit of linguistic humor was one of the simple joys that accompanied freshman-fifteen inducing meals. Examples of tray carvings included "Tray Guevara", "John Tray", "Sexual Frustraytion", "Traydo-Masochism", etc. More images of tray art can be found on The Bwog.[1]

Following the 2003-2004 school year, Dining Services replaced all of the trays in John Jay Dining Hall. However, tray puns found their way back onto the new set of trays.

Quasi-witty etching examples

  • Mothafuckas act like they forgot about Tray.
  • Shall I compare thee to a summer's tray?
  • All work & no tray make John Jay a dull boy.
  • She moves in mysterious trays.
  • Sustaining the grand traydition, one tray at a time.

Sledding

In addition to providing a medium for witty expression, students regularly commandeered trays for use as makeshift sleds for use on The Steps or in Riverside Park on heavy snow days.

Elimination

Unfortunately, at the start of the 2008-2009 academic year, the trays were permanently removed from John Jay by Columbia University Dining Services, citing environmental benefits due to reduced water and soap consumption, health benefits from a reduction in overeating, and "authentic New York experience," sans trays.

The response has generally been negative due to inconvenience, but there is no indication that these impromptu fiberglass canvases will ever make a comeback to John Jay. The fate of the cleverly carved trays is unknown and Dining Sevices probably missed a golden opportunity to hold a charity auction for some of the more remarkable trays and pay homage to the end of a tradition.

References

External links