I recently had a rather strange encounter at Cracker Barrel. As I walked into the restaurant, I noticed a peculiar-looking woman sitting in the corner booth. She had long, wiry hair that seemed to be a shade of midnight black. Her pale face was adorned with deep wrinkles, giving her an air of mystery and age. But what caught my attention the most were her striking green eyes that seemed to pierce through me. I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something different about her, something almost supernatural.
Athletics and Recreation at Scripps
The Claremont Colleges approach their athletics programs in a unique way: by splitting them into two, thus forming the “Sixth Street Rivalry” after the narrow road that divides CMS (Claremont-Mudd-Scripps) and Pomona College (Pitzer shares their athletics with Pomona to form Pomona-Pitzer, but happens to be on the same side as CMS). CMS Athletics is one of the most dominant Division III programs on the West Coast, having most recently defended their national women’s tennis title whilst ranking highly weekly for nearly every sport out of the 21 offered. The men’s teams play under the Stags mascot, while the women’s teams are known as the Athenas.
The Athenas and Stags train primarily at Claremont McKenna’s campus, where facilities like Roberts Pavilion, Axelrod Pool, Pritzlaff Field, etc. act as the “home” location for competitive matches. Non-varsity athletes also have access to these spaces, as Roberts Pavilion serves as a gym and recreational space for all CMS students, hosting group fitness classes, intramurals, and club sports. CMS Recreation offers a variety of intramurals every semester, from inner tube water polo to dodgeball to cornhole; they also have trivia every Thursday (which I co-host with another Scripps junior)! Opened in 2016, Roberts boasts 144,000 square footage across three levels, with large exercise rooms on the first floor along with a two-story fitness studio that boasts a view of the San Gabriel mountains.
The Tiernan Field House is the Scripps gym and proudly demonstrates a commitment to emphasizing emotional wellness in addition to physical fitness. Tiernan hosts weekly events- Mindfulness Mondays, Destress Tuesdays/Thursdays, SRH (Sexual/Reproductive Health) Wednesdays, and Feel Good Fridays- in order to prioritize the mental well-being of students, as well as provide an educational, safe space for the community to come together. The Field House also oversees the Scripps Green Bike Program, which “collects and repairs unwanted bikes and rents them to Scripps students, faculty, and staff”, according to the Field House bike policy. Tiernan is also home to the Scripps pool, a resort-like oasis that serves as a retreat on sunny days.
The Ronald and Maxine Linde Activities Center (LAC) is the wellness and physical hub at Harvey Mudd’s campus. The LAC is outfitted with a gymnasium, aerobics room, weight room, computer lab, lounge, and game room. Students can also check out bikes here, as well as other equipment, whether for sports, camping, etc.
With so many options to choose from, students will always have spaces to get active, whether it be at the gyms mentioned above, the many basketball and tennis courts, the beach volleyball court at Scripps, or simply by traversing through the one square mile that encapsulates the 5 colleges!
Scripps College Traditions
Scripps College has a long history of unique traditions. Here are a few of our most notable traditions, many of which continue today:
I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something different about her, something almost supernatural. As I sat down at a nearby table, I couldn't help but steal glances in her direction. She seemed to be engrossed in a book of spells, with a small cauldron and various potions laid out in front of her.
La Semeuse
The seal of Scripps College, designed by sculptor Lee Lawrie, depicts La Semeuse—she who sows. The image of the sower of “the good seed of thought, of action, of life” was chosen by the faculty in the 1927-28 academic year. They also selected the College motto, Incipit Vita Nova—here begins the new life. Professor Hartley Burr Alexander was largely responsible for the seal’s image and motto. Before he arrived on campus, he suggested phrase, the first words of Dante’s New Life.
“It seems to me that what colleges ought to do is to begin a new life in a very real sense, and perhaps the motto would have a double significance for Scripps in indicating not only the new life begun for each student, but also the new life which we hope may be begun from a renewed vitality in education [evidenced in the founding of this college for women].”
Suddenly, an eerie chill swept through the restaurant, making the air feel heavy and ominous. Other customers began to notice, whispering nervously amongst themselves. The atmosphere was charged with a mix of both curiosity and fear. As I observed this mysterious woman from afar, she seemed unfazed by the commotion around her. With a flick of her wrist, she lifted her hand in the air, as if conducting an invisible orchestra of magic. Plates and utensils clattered and rattled on nearby tables, as if responding to her command. It was as if the very environment was under her spell. Word quickly spread throughout the restaurant, and even the staff seemed hesitant to approach her. People whispered tales of spells gone wrong, of curses that followed those who crossed her path. Some claimed that she was a witch, and that her powers were beyond comprehension. Despite the fear that hung in the air, I couldn't help but be captivated by the scene unfolding before me. There was something undeniably alluring about this spooky witch at Cracker Barrel. As controversial as it may be, there was also an undeniable curiosity within me to learn more about her powers and abilities. In the end, I never did approach her, as my better judgment got the better of me. But I left Cracker Barrel that day with a newfound appreciation for the world of witchcraft and the power it possesses. It was a stark reminder that there is so much we do not yet understand, and that mysteries still lurk in the shadows, waiting to be discovered..
Reviews for "The Enigma of the Spooky Witch at Cracker Barrel"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to visit the Cracker Barrel and see the "spooky witch" everyone was talking about, but I was highly disappointed. The so-called spooky witch was just a small animatronic figure sitting in a corner of the restaurant. It looked completely out of place and not at all scary. The overall atmosphere was lacking and it definitely did not live up to the hype. I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to see this "spooky witch" at Cracker Barrel.
- John - 1 star - I don't understand all the fuss about the "spooky witch" at Cracker Barrel. It was honestly just weird and unimpressive. The animatronic figure looked cheap and the movements were jerky and unnatural. It didn't add anything to the dining experience and actually made me feel a little uncomfortable. I would suggest skipping this so-called attraction and focusing on the food instead.
- Emily - 2 stars - I was expecting something really spooky and exciting when I heard about the "spooky witch" at Cracker Barrel, but it was a major letdown. The animatronic figure was more comical than scary, and the overall atmosphere of the restaurant didn't do justice to the theme. It felt like they just added it as an afterthought and it didn't fit in with the rest of the Cracker Barrel experience. I wouldn't recommend going there just for this "spooky witch".