Young Writers

From the unofficial Duke TIP Wiki

Young Writers is another Duke-sponsored summer program that takes place on East. The Young Writers used to actually be young, but many are now just as old as TIPsters, and older (it goes from 6th to 11th grade). They are housed in Wilson dorm, next to the Union during Term 2.

[edit] Rivalry

The majority of the Young Writers know nothing of the "rivalry" between TIP and their program. When a Young Writer is asked what camp they attend, they invariably reply back snobbily: "DYWC".

Sam and Daag of the Trinity told a story in which they created the rivalry between TIPsters and Young Writers. In their account, the rivalry was started thus: the pair were trying to stack saltshakers in the Union dining hall in 1998 term 1. They made a stack of 20, and left in triumph. While leaving, they heard the following sounds (reenacted exactly by Sam at TIP Lore 2004, Term II):

sksksksksksk (scuttling)... AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!... BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM... (CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!)...

And so, the rivalry was born.

This loathing, er, rivalry, was intensified when during the course of unprecedented horrors, Young Writers entered the fourth year circle at the last dance at East Term 1 2006. Tensions grew to fever-pitch, but, alas, all of the Young Writers escaped unscathed. Strangely enough, the many of the Young Writers looked intensely confused upon finding themselves on Circle Quad. From the library steps, one could observe the Young Writers milling about, looking frequently at the foreboding TIPsters. One Young Writer in particular seemed extremely befuddled. For 10 minutes, he would walk two feet in one direction, look around, and then walk two feet in the other direction. Why? Who knows: he was a Young Writer.

Some Young Writers, though, seem to be impressed by TIP, specifically East Term 2. In 2004, a group of female Young Writers approached Daag/Mark's RAG while they were at Get Crunk Night on 9th Street. Peter Sloan obliged and answered their questions about the origins and traditions surrounding the Llama.

In East Term II 2006, after OSC Sam kidnapped the Llama he offered to give it back if the TIPsters made an offering of a Young Writer. A female Young Writer was indeed captured but was freed shortly afterwards by a Young Writer counselor.