Ditch Day on Friday: Caltech Seniors Create a Whirlwind of Fun and Challenges

Caltech seniors ditched their classes Friday in a time-honored tradition known as Ditch Day. This annual event — always unleashed by surprise on an unannounced day —  is considered one of the highlights of the academic year.

The day was filled with imaginative puzzles, quirky costumes, and unconventional activities that kept the underclassmen on their toes.

Ditch Day is a century-old tradition at Caltech. It revolves around the creation of “stacks” by the graduating seniors, where they construct elaborate challenges for their younger classmates to solve. The stacks are a unique blend of fun and academic prowess, providing a platform for underclassmen to showcase their problem-solving skills.

This year’s Ditch Day stacks were as diverse as ever, featuring a wide array of activities across the campus. One of the highlights was the raft-building challenge, where teams had to construct seaworthy vessels from unconventional materials. 

Scavenger hunts were also a hit, as underclassmen scoured the campus to decipher clues and unlock hidden treasures. The seniors also posed ethical dilemmas, forcing the underclassmen to ponder and find solutions in unconventional scenarios.

The event fosters a sense of camaraderie and friendly competition among underclassmen. Divided into teams, they worked together, competing against one another to solve the intricate challenges set by seniors. 

Ditch Day has become a part of the institution’s identity as an irreverent and unconventional construct that fosters critical thinking, teamwork, and innovation.