A hangover, vague fears about mono and a catchy little mug proclaiming, ".08, No limits." All are mementos from a great night spent with graduating seniors at the Elks Club last Saturday, an event otherwise known as 100 Days.

After piecing together the night, it seems that Grinnellians are unnecessarily anxious about transgressing social boundaries. Hundred Days proves it might be easier than we think.

Naturally, 100 Days provokes great speculation and curiosity. Although there was Amberbock on tap, the open space and friend circles initially made the party feel more like a middle school dance than the lecherous scene my imagination had concocted.

But as the lights slowly dimmed and the beer line petered out, a few eager individuals started to take the initiative. What might otherwise be deemed an obscene mass make-out session at Harris was now an inspiration to others.

Things might start with a shrug of the shoulders or an awkward smile, but after five, ten, and for some, even thirty people, a blunt request seemed to be more than appropriate granted the person can be found É or the person in front of you is amenable. Strangely enough, it didn't feel that odd.

As sketchy as many second-hand accounts may seem, uneasiness or shame wasn't the most prevalent feeling throughout the evening. In many respects the experience seems to be beyond words and, in some cases, beyond memory. But in general, I felt that I was among friends.

Assembled in the Elks Club was not just the class of '08, but memories and people that have defined my experience at Grinnell. Lingering crushes and missed opportunities motivated a few kisses, but a spirit of unity and hilarity pervaded most interactions.

Still, when the lights turned on, I was left wondering what temporarily removed the barriers and fears that inhibit us on most other nights.

The implicit rules and ample supply of alcohol certainly did their part to relieve apprehensions. The 100 Days ticket didn't contain explicit guidelines to navigating the party. But most of us, based on stories from past years, expected an environment where there would be no judgment or consequences for putting ourselves out there. I doubt that's really possible.

But by buying a ticket and participating, all of us pretended it was. If that proved difficult, a rumored eleven kegs and some potent mixed drinks aided in reducing any remaining reservations. Eventually, most seniors recognized each other's shared excitement and frustration and finally took the plunge.

Hundred Days serves to challenge the barriers we put up around ourselves as much as an opportunity to settle old infatuations. To suggest that Grinnellians suffer from unreasonable anxieties is an understatement most wouldn't challenge.

Often, we are told that our concerns and excessive worrying aren't unique, that on some level we all experience the same fears about miscommunication or rejection. Theoretically that sounds nice, but when you're trying to muster up the courage just to say "hey," to someone, such advice seems pretty lame.

But at the party, we could see that the individuals we idealized are actually susceptible to the same neuroses we are. This revelation makes one questions whether 100 Days is just a drunken night of debauchery.

Many would argue that 100 Days is an anomaly, but what is really strange is allowing our anxieties to overcomplicate our lives. Instead of drawing up elaborate lists for the big night, maybe it would just be better to take a few more chances.

It would probably be unhygienic for every weekend to replicate the festivities last Saturday, but life at Grinnell could be a lot better if we worried a little less and acted a lot more.