Two days out of the school year, New Paltz students rise before noon, hydrate and swarm to a lot for the definite sport — that is a marathon, not a sprint — known as daging. A colloquialism for “day rage,” also referred to as a darty (“day party” … but you knew that), these daytime festivities are part of being college kids in our youth and sacrosanct for SUNYgoers. It takes place outdoors, calls for a festive uniform and plenty of endurance if you want to make it out to the bars for the drink specials. Make a good play and you may earn the campus accolade of appearing on an affiliate of Barstool Sports. Other schools may have weekly football games with designated tailgate parking lots, but the seldomness of our school-wide celebrations just makes them more special. Like other sports, it bridges divides and brings people together. You do not have to sacrifice your weekends to away games as a student-athlete, or your dignity by letting upperclassmen haze you as a member of Greek life — even the normal people are welcome to participate and carry colorful water gallons that resemble a jock’s pre-workout drink. Go spill beer on an ugly Christmas sweater or milk your distant Irish ancestry as an excuse for culture on the first Saturdays of December and March. Just remember to show some sportsmanship and not post the lot address on social media to avoid ruining it for the rest of us.
