The Not-So-Greasy Pole, Cont.

In the latest issue of THE WEEKLY STANDARD, The Scrapbook lamented the wussification of the United States Naval Academy, in light of its decision to ungrease the greased pole. Traditionally, plebes completing their first year joined together to ascend the 21-foot Herndon Monument and place an upperclassman’s hat atop it–a task made infinitely more difficult by the upperclassmen’s generous application of lard to the monument. This year, the superintendent of the academy nixed the lard, on grounds of safety.