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Hellweek have a long tradition in the school and the military. HellWeek is the most complicated tradition, and very difficult to describe on paper.
School
HellWeek happens in mid-February, about a month after everyone comes back from winter break. It serves as a way to break the monotony in the time between winter and spring breaks, but more importantly, it serves as the true welcoming of the frosh class. HellWeek provides a means by which people can get to know each other.
At the beginning of HellWeek, frosh sign up for sophomores who will serve as their "heller" and juniors who will serve as their "sympathetic junior." Again, we see the class relationships that were established in Parade Night come into play for HellWeek.
The first night of Hell Week is spent copying the dorm schedule that has been drawn up by the sophomore representatives for the dorm. All the frosh gather in the dorm living room and spend several hours copying the purposely tedious and often lengthy schedule. It´s not so bad though, since the juniors show up to throw them a party.
In the following days, each frosh´s heller draws up a personalized schedule of HellWeek tasks. These are often as ridiculous as asking silly questions in class, writing poetry extolling the virtues of the heller and reciting it in a public forum, or performing on the stage that is erected in the main dining hall. It should be noted that all HellWeek activities are optional. The schedules are agreed upon by heller and hellee alike, and there are alternative activities available for those desiring different entertainment, as well as various "hell-free" zones around campus that can provide a haven to those who just want some peace and quiet.
What´s the real deal with HellWeek? Is there a HellWeek secret? Hell, frankly, yes there is a big secret. HellWeek ends with a big party for everyone.
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