Giving their major investment in promotion, they hoped for a major turnout. In reality, the evening exceeded their expectations.

CRASHING THE PARTY

When the party opened at 9 p.m., it got off to a fine start.

“People were dancing up a storm,” says Marc J. Sobil ’80, the treasurer of South House, who was collecting dollars at the door.

A favorite D.J. spun music from Animal House over enormous subwoofers and speakers as sheet-clad guests showed up.

“For about the first half hour,” Winthrop remembers, “the party was fantastic.”

But by 9:30 p.m. or so, hopeful partygoers stirred up a commotion outside the House. There were more people outside trying to get in than there were inside at the party, Winthrop says. When Sobil stood in the doorway to block the inward flow, partiers began mounting the House walls and entering through the windows.

“I had never seen anything like this at Harvard, as far as the number if people going to a party,” Sobil says.

By 10 p.m.—when the Committee had collected $1,200 for the Jimmy fund, according to Sobil—Harvard University Police Department officers patrolling the area swarmed the already swamped south Quad. The party was officially over.

“I don’t recall our even contemplating the issue that we were going to be overcrowded,” Wilson says. “We thought the party would spill out onto the Quad, but it didn’t.”

But Sobil says he thinks the overflow was easily predictable, given the low entry charge.

“I have a personal opinion that it was overpromoted and undercharged,” he says.

In any case, the shutdown came as a blow to the party’s aspirations.

“Those of us on the inside who were enjoying the party were really bummed when it was shutdown.”

According to Carroll, though, its intent remained intact.

“We established the reputation that we wanted, which was if you want to have fun go to South House,” he says. “So I think we accomplished our mission by having our party shut down.”

Winthrop agrees. “It was a real badge of honor for those of us who were involved with it,” he says.

And although the toga craze died within months, alumni say the experience was worthwhile.

“It was a lot of fun,” Carroll remembers. “You always had music and dancing and there was just something about dressing up like a Roman senator that made everything seem all right.”

—Staff writer Nathan J. Heller can be reached at heller@fas.harvard.edu.