Last Monday, we posted an invitation to "The Masquerade," a formal Yale party which sought the company of an elite group of freshmen. Directives to meet at "NINE THIRTY POST MERIDIEM" and to "TELL NO ONE AND DO NOT BE LATE" usually signify a hoax, but this was at Yale, one of the one places in the world that such pretentious secrecy can be taken in earnest.

As our commenters noted, however, "The Masquerade" was a prank -- an annual one to boot. Certain freshmen Casper-aspirants -- as determined by Facebook pretentiousness -- would show only to find an upperclassmen society called the Pundits getting nakey-like. But this year, according to a source, very few went due to an anonymous e-mail dispersed to freshmen warning them of the Pundits' penisy intentions.

The Pundits planned another of their usual pranks for Wednesday night, this one involving a cappella recruits (hate them so much...) and their stupid Tap Night. The invitation read as follows:

"Your musical talent has come to the attention of a very select group of singers. You are poised to join the ranks of the best musicians to pass through Yale's gates. Congratulations. Please be at the Nathan hale statue on old campus promptly at 10 pm. Be in formal dress. All the singing groups will be notified of your location, to ensure that you will be tapped by the group of your choice. Tonight will be an evening to remember. Ad Harmoniam Perpetuandam, TTS [Top Tap Society]"

The same anonymous informer of "The Masquerade" e-mailed freshmen about the Pundits plans again:

"They will take you to some hard-to-find location and give you food and drink.  Meanwhile, they will play pranks on the singing group(s) that wish to tap you."

Ooooh! Does this mean they surgically remove each of their larynxes? Where can I sign up??

Hmmph. What should we make of this anonymous informer -- is he a hero, a buzzkill or just a Pundits reject? Or better yet, a Pundits mole...

After the jump, the anonymous informer's latest e-mail to stupid a cappella wannabes.

Dear Freshmen,

This concerns those of you who are rushing a cappella. Over the course of the last day, some of you received a note signed by "TTS." The note reads:

"Your musical talent has come to the attention of a very select group of singers. You are poised to join the ranks of the best musicians to pass through Yale's gates. Congratulations. Please be at the Nathan hale statue on old campus promptly at 10 pm. Be in formal dress. All the singing groups will be notified of your location, to ensure that you will be tapped by the group of your choice. Tonight will be an evening to remember. Ad Harmoniam Perpetuandam, TTS"

Once again, as with my earlier email regarding "The Masquerade" I must be the bearer of bad news.  You are not being invited to join an elite group of musicians.  This is a prank that was also devised by the seniors in the Pundits.

If you go to the Nathan Hale statue this evening, the Pundits will pretend to be members of a fabricated prestigious "Top Tap Society" or "TTS."  They will take you to some hard-to-find location and give you food and drink.  Meanwhile, they will play pranks on the singing group(s) that wish to tap you.  

To my knowledge, in past years all the freshmen who were recipients of these letters did get tapped by the groups they desired.  However, this was only after quite a bit of nuisance and aggravation.  As I said in my earlier email, the Pundits' hijinks are often clever, but in cases like these I feel that it's only fair to make the targeted parties aware of the situation.  They could be fun for a person with the right mindset: you can decide whether or not to play along.

Tap Night is one of the most exciting and chaotic events of the year, and you should be excited whether or not you are involved with a cappella rush.  Tonight will be an experience that is unique to Yale, and you certainly won't forget it.  I hope that you enjoy yourselves, no matter what happens, and congratulations to those of you who will be tapped!

Yours,

Anonymous