Rednecks & Rattails

10 February 2013Mollie G, Mackenzie '13

GDP is the market value of all recognized final goods and services produced within a country. It is calculated by the equation C + I + G + (EX – IM) and it takes on the equivalent of a country’s economic success. At Brentwood, success is measured by 3A (the deadly three: Academics, Athletics & Arts) + 2S (socializing and sleep, of course) + EX (extracurricular activities) + E (Exams) + O.H (the Grade 12’s biggest fear).

O.H. stands for Open House and is a fantastic night where the Grade 12s of a house organize a fun, themed party for all of their peers to come and enjoy. The goal is that everyone ends the night claiming, “That was the best open house yet!” On campus, however, there are 8 wonderful houses, and years of amazing open houses to live up to. With exams fast approaching, university applications on a strict deadline and stressful emotions exploding from everybody’s ears, the Grade 12s of Mack house struggled to make open house deadlines last December.

Oh, but how they pulled it off.

Having chosen a theme of “Rednecks and Rattails” the night was sure to be an interesting one. The house was decked out in rubbish and rust to fit the hick theme, and the food being served consisted of potato skins and beef jerky. As the students of Brentwood rolled into Mackenzie House sporting flannels, jeans, baseball caps and even a couple of rattails, I, along with my fellow girlies of Mack House, felt huge sighs of relief. Facebook statuses and Twitter updates consisted of comments such as “Mack Open house! Best open house yet #rednecks.”

Mackenzie House transformed into an oxymoronic ‘beautiful dump’ for the night. Stimulating music bounced off every corner of the house as students walked down the perfectly decorated hallways. The main floor consisted of a “Mullet Hall of Fame” and the lower floor had a photo booth, which allowed everybody to get a memory of his or her mullets and redneck personalities.

The Mack girls and staff who organized the Mackenzie Open House get an A+, and we are all crossing our fingers that we can say the same of our exams.

Mollie G, Mack ‘13

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