Burton-Conner has always been fond of its parties.  Whether it is the Annual DTYD party hosted by the Burton Third Bombers or a small birthday get together, Burton-Conner residents will take whatever excuse they can to have a party. 

Prior to Burton-Conner becoming coed, parties were very important because it was an excuse to bring in members of the opposite sex.  Throughout the years Burton-Conner has been home to many themed parties, ranging from a Roman Toga party complete with student-made roman columns to a Prohibition-themed party with pretend gambling tables.  Oliver Filippi and George Luedeke were both heavily involved in the Social Committee and recall putting on many outrageous parties.  One such event was the “Bolshevik Bounce,” which had a prison camp theme complete with barbed-wire entrance and a uniformed guard.

Many parties occur as students wind down after a long week.  What starts off as a small group of friends listening to music and having a beer, can quickly turn into a dance party as more people show up and the music gets cranked up.  Under the administrations current rules, all parties with alcohol must be registered with the Dean’s Office.  This was not always the case.  In 1979, Massachusetts changed the drinking age from 18 to 20 years and changed the way in which parties were hosted at MIT.  Until this time parties would serve alcohol without the need to check peoples age.  When Massachusetts changed the drinking age MIT was not sure how to deal with the new law.  Although alcohol wasn’t explicitly banned, the change in view of alcohol caused a rift to form between the freshmen and sophomore classes and the junior and senior classes.   

                a. Bomber Parties

Many things can and have been said about the Burton Third Bombers, but no one can deny that the Bombers throw some of the largest parties around West Campus.  The one they are best known for is their “Dance Till You Drop” or DTYD party.  In 1997 the name was changed from “Drink Till You Drop” when MIT changed its policy to be strictly against a student drinking until he or she dropped. 

In the spring term of 2010 the 41st iteration of DTYD was celebrated.  The Bombers promoted the event by advertising live bands, alcoholic beverages (provided a positive ID was shown), BBQ, Bombers (the floor members, not the explosive kind), and booty shaking.  Everything promised was provided and around 500 people attended the event.  DTYD is also used by the Bombers to invite alumni back for a reunion. 

In order to promote DTYD, the Bombers often participate in some sort of annual hack.  In 2008, the silhouettes of the Bomber’s traditional airplane and cartoon bomb with the letters DTYD could be found around campus.  In 2009, a 600 lb concrete cartoon bomb, also with the Letters DTYD was placed on the Kresge lawn in front of the Student Center.  While a creative way to advertise the party, someone thought it as a real bomb threat and called the Fire Department, Police Department, and Police Bomb Squad.  The Bombers later issued a formal apology, but the party continued as planned. 

                b. Birthday Celebrations

Many students in Burton-Conner are at college when their birthday rolls around and opt to celebrate it with their friends.  Every floor celebrates birthdays differently, but a few traditions can be found on multiple floors.  Many floors have a birthday chair who makes sure everyone’s birthday is celebrated and that the person’s choice of cake will be available. After the singing, a common practice is to have the birthday person’s roommate or closest friend feed them a rather large and often unmanageable piece of cake.  Then students linger around the lounge relaxing until some sort of unspoken sign is given and a bunch of students merge on the Birthday person and rush him or her into the shower, this is called “showering.”  Showering is a tradition that extends beyond birthdays and is generally frowned upon by MIT’s administration.