Currey Sex-Capades

Collected by John Aiello (john.a.aiello@vanderbilt.edu)

Summary:Two years ago there were two Vanderbilt freshman having sex on the third floor of Currey Hall in the Kissam Quad. What the two people did
not know (or possibly they did) is that they had left the window and the curtain open for all to see and hear. A crowd of spectators had gathered below the window and began shouting things at the couple as they proceeded. The couple actually got written up for the deed.

Text: One night, the Kissam Quad was getting pretty noisy because a group of people were screaming and shouting below the third floor of Currey
Hall. Two people had left open their window and curtain while having sex and everyone who cared to look got a show. Apparently the two students were written up by the RA because of he disturbance they had caused.

Notes: There are three interesting aspects to this tale. First of all, the presence of authority and the restriction of human nature plays a major role in the tale. The two people were performing a natural act and were punished for doing so. As stated before, anti-establishment sentiments run wild on college campuses and this tale is no different. Every time it is told, the negative role of the RA and Vanderbilt is emphasized. Also, the aspect of voyeurism is included in this tale. Voyeurism is
considered sexual deviency, but it is obviously permissible when in groups. Finally, the story about the freshman telling this story to my informant is concrete proof of how stories and legends are passed on. My informant knew that the story was true, but the freshman had no clue what to believe.

Context:

a. Brief Summary of Tale: Two years ago there were two Vanderbilt freshman having sex on the third floor of Currey Hall in the Kissam Quad. What the two people did not know (or possibly they did) is that they had left the window and the curtain open for all to see and hear. A crowd of spectators had gathered below the window and began shouting things at the couple as they proceeded. The couple actually got written up for the deed.

b. Tale Type and Motifs: This is a typical college urban legend with tale motifs of sexuality. It also deals with the hegemonic authority that repremands the couple for their actions.

c. Comments on Tale: This is a true story according to my informant. He lived in the Kissam Quad and witnessed the entire spectacle. It is undetermined whether or not the two people were written up, though. It is a pretty amusing sexual tale and it is interesting how authority plays a role in its telling. College students are infamous for having problems with authority and this is evident in the tale.

d. Approximate date informant first heard tale: This happened second semester of my informant's freshman year. That would mean the incident occurred in the spring of 1997.

e. Relationship of your informant with the individual from whom the informant heard the tale:My informant was a first-hand witness, but incidentally, this year a freshman living on the third floor of Currey asked him about the legend. The freshman recited the tale and it was pretty close to the truth. This is proof of how legends are passed down to future generations.

f. Circumstances when tale was first heard: Once again, he was a first-hand witness to the event.

g.Give the following information on your informant:
Age: 19
Sex: male
Place of Birth: New York City
Ethnic Group: Italian-American
Languages Spoken: English
Religion: Catholic
Year in School: Junior
Extracurricular jobs: none
Date Collected: 11/7/98