By SOPHIA NITSCHE
The Bell Run is one of Beloit College’s infamous traditions. Requiring one to strip down to their birthday suit at the Wall, run across frat row, pee on a bell, and run back, it draws a lot of attention. It is seen as a rite of passage for new students, upperclassmen insisting on its importance, passing the tradition on to future generations. (I’m smiling just thinking about it).
The Round Table, Beloit College’s newspaper, decided to host a school-wide bell run Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 11:59 p.m., hoping people would be drunk enough by then to agree to strip, run piss, and then get interviewed after. After being announced, a prize of $50 was offered to the person who does the run the fastest.
And so the day came, the editors were biting their nails hoping at least a couple people would show.
Donaldo Robelo’27, famous around campus for doing the Bell Run ALL THE TIME, was first to show, followed by Cooper Rathmann’28 and Max Musynski’26. Rathmann and Musynski, both cross-country runners, announced that they were going to participate in their panties, receiving a crazy side-eye from the already naked Robelo.
These three locked in their participation around midnight and as the minutes passed more and more people started to show up, until there was a crowd with numbers unseen at Beloit College.
People were heckling, screaming, asking if the $50 was real, and teasing their friends that they should run. It was so loud that Vivian Kopka’27 had to stand on top of the wall with her coolest friend (me) and scream to get everyone’s attention to count the three brave boys off.
Counting back from ten, the crowd was electric and writhing with excitement. “GOOOO” Kopka screamed. Dust was everywhere and when it settled, Robelo was a good distance behind the Cross country runners.
There was a time when we did not have eyes on them, you could hear a pin drop, and everyone was hitched in anticipation. And then there he was, Rathmann far ahead, running fast as hell in his women’s panties of course.
Musynski followed, and in last place, our famous Bell Run boy, Robelo stumbled back to the Wall, shaft in hand. He was livid and started telling everyone that his cross-country opponents did not even pee on the bell.
When Rathman was interviewed after and asked if his bell run even counted because he wore his lacy underwear the entire time, he informed us that he did Hawk Tuah on it. I’ll take it!
The crowd was wild, the night was young, and the winner was intensely controversial, but we let it slide because he is a freshman so that $50 will probably get Venmoed to him soon maybe. The turnout on this was heartwarming.
I love you Donaldo, don’t ever stop.
(Note: Cooper Rathmann did not take the money for his victory)
Featured Image: Sophia Nitsche’25
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