he first guide to The Tradition, and learning to maintain that Tradition in Untraditional ways.
A Resource Curated By
elcome to Rowing Blazers University, an institution founded on the pillar of re ned rebellion. Here, you will be expected to uphold the traditions of excellence while skillfully rewriting them in your favor. ese are not mere guidelines but the very fabric of a life well-played. Follow them to the letter, or better yet, master them so well that you can manipulate them to your advantage.
MATER ALMA HONOR your
our school is more than an institution—it is an identity, an insignia, a narrative that extends far beyond its ivy-covered walls. Speak of it in hushed reverence or drunken slander, but ensure that its name is ever-present in the public consciousness. Wear its crest like armor, or better yet, tattoo it onto the zeitgeist with acts so legendary they become folklore. Participate in its traditions, or create new ones so grand that they eclipse the old. e measure of your devotion is not in blind obedience but in your ability to ensure that Rowing Blazers University remains immortal in the annals of whispered history.
ALUM OF THE CURRICULUM
JANE BIRKIN
BEST ACCESSORIZED
Jane Birkin is a British-French singer, actress, and fashion icon, best known for her role in popularizing the Birkin bag with Hermès, which became a symbol of luxury and style. Her music and e ortless fashion made her a disruptive force in the 1960s and 70s, in uencing both French cinema and international fashion.
ALEX CONSANI MOST FASHIONABLE
Alex Consani made history as the rst trans woman to be named Model of the Year, breaking barriers in the fashion industry and creating new opportunities for transgender models. With her trailblazing work in both high fashion and activism, she has disrupted traditional beauty standards and paved the way for greater representation in the industry.
LADY DIANA
MOST LIKELY TO INSPIRE
Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales, reshaped the public’s view of royalty with her charity work and candid openness about her personal struggles. Her charitable e orts, particularly in HIV/AIDS and landmine campaigns, along with her fashion in uence, made her a disruptive force in both the monarchy and global humanitarian e orts.
JACKIE KENNEDY EPITOME OF POISE
Jackie Kennedy transformed the role of the First Lady with her elegance and modern sensibilities, becoming a global fashion icon while promoting cultural diplomacy. rough her restoration of the White House and her advocacy for the arts, she disrupted conventional expectations of political gures, forever altering public perception of leadership.
DAVID BOWIE
MOST INNOVATIVE
David Bowie revolutionized music, fashion, and identity, creating characters like Ziggy Stardust and constantly reinventing his artistic persona. With his experimental music and boundary-pushing approach to gender and fame, he disrupted conventional norms, leaving an indelible mark on pop culture and the music industry.
ANDY WARHOL
MOST ARTISTIC
Andy Warhol rede ned the art world by elevating mass-produced items and celebrity culture to high art, particularly through his iconic Campbell’s Soup cans and portraits of stars like Marilyn Monroe. His exploration of the intersection between art and consumerism, along with his creation of the avant-garde Factory, disrupted traditional boundaries in art and culture.
Be PERFECTION PURSUIT of ENGAGED in the
ou will, at some point, be accused of trying too hard. is is a good sign—it means they have noticed. Perfection is not an aspiration; it is the price of admission. Your essays should read as if they were penned by a long-dead poet laureate. Your tailoring should suggest a level of wealth that is either inherited or expertly fabricated. Your failures, if you must have them, should be so spectacular that they cannot be ignored. True excellence is indistinguishable from sorcery; it should leave others wondering whether your success is a matter of talent, luck, or some other force beyond mortal comprehension.
COMPOSURE KEEP your
he world will try to rattle you. Professors will scold, administrators will lecture, rivals will attempt to dismantle your reputation brick by brick. Do not inch. A raised eyebrow is more cutting than a retort. A slow sip of tea is more damning than an argument. e ability to remain unbothered in the face of chaos is the mark of those who truly belong. If you must react, do so in a way that leaves no room for interpretation— shoulders squared, chin li ed, an expression of practiced indi erence that suggests you have already won.
CHIVALROUS BE
eave them wanting more. Arrive precisely when it serves you, and depart the moment your presence is no longer required for your own
Romantic entanglements should be undertaken with the same philosophy— generosity without attachment, a ection without obligation. Be remembered fondly or bitterly, but never forgotten. e most successful among us do not cling; they dri in and out of lives like a well-written subplot, leaving a trail of unanswered questions and well-folded love letters in their wake.
MASTERING the ARTof ETIQUETTE ELEGANT
rue etiquette is not about rigid rules or outdated formalities—it is about wielding social grace like a weapon, e ortlessly disarming and delighting those around you. It is knowing precisely when to extend a hand and when
POSTURE
osture is not merely an issue of etiquette—it is a declaration. A good slouch conveys far more power than the most con dent of seating positions. Your bearing should suggest you were born into greatness, even if you had to manufacture it from the ground up. Learn to occupy space as though it were built for you. Perfect the art of the languid sprawl, the calculated lean, the immovable stance that conveys authority without needing to announce it. e weak adjust their posture to their surroundings; the strong force the world to accommodate them.
She leans slightly forward, shoulders relaxed, exuding an e ortless cool that makes the slouch feel intentional. With a casual stance and an easy con dence, she owns the space around her.
stands tall with squared shoulders and a steady gaze, exuding con dence and poise. His posture is upright and relaxed, a quiet testament to strength and self-assurance.
He
HYGIENE GROOMING and PRISTINE in
our appearance is your rst argument, your most persuasive lie, your most powerful form of silent communication. Clean-cut is classic, but carefully curated dishevelment is an art. A precisely undone bowtie, a jacket slung over the shoulder at just the right angle, a haircut that suggests you cut it yourself (but better than any barber could)—these are choices, not accidents. e goal is to leave them wondering whether you care too much or not
well-placed surname can open doors, but the right kind of notoriety can blow them o their hinges. Align yourself with those who are known for something— activists, revolutionaries, heirs to dynasties, heirs to misfortune. Seek friendships that will either elevate your social standing or make it utterly irrelevant. A well-connected friend can provide opportunities; a well-placed scandal can make you untouchable.
Do they say ‘We’ll see’ instead of committing to plans?
Do they play music o their phone speaker in public?
When you tell a joke, do they say ‘Huh?’ instead of just laughing?
Do they make you feel like you have to entertain them?
Do they complain a little too much?
Are they weird about splitting the bill?
Do they use weird corporate slang in normal conversation? Are they constantly bailing on plans?
Stay UP TO DATE WELL-READ and
well-read mind is a well-armed one. Books are not merely for show (though they do make excellent props when avoiding conversation); they are instruments of quiet rebellion, best used to outmaneuver the uninformed. Read everything—canonical classics to know what you’re subverting, revolutionary manifestos to know how to subvert it,
etiquette guides to know which rules to ignore most agrantly. e truly educated never need to raise their voice—only an eyebrow—because nothing unsettles authority more than a student who has done the reading.
Our All-Time Favorte Select Readings for Enrichment
