Full Moon on the Quad

Full Moon on the Quad, also referred to as FMOTQ,^[1][2] is an annual tradition at Stanford University.^[3][4] During the event, students gather at Main Quad and kiss one another starting at midnight. Typically organized by the Junior class cabinet, the festivities include live entertainment, such as music and dance performances.^[5]

The tradition has undergone many changes since its inception. It originally featured female Stanford first-years lining up to receive a rose and a kiss on the cheek from male Stanford seniors, but eventually, the tradition lost its formality and came into its present form.^[6] The event originally occurred under the first full moon of the year, but in 2017, it was pushed back to the first full moon of winter quarter to encourage greater participation from first-years.^[7] As the tradition has progressed and with the wake of the Me Too movement, there has been a greater emphasis on consent.^[8] The most recent iteration involved participants wearing different colored glowing necklaces, with green indicating openness to a kiss, yellow indicating openness to just a hug, and red indicating intentions to only observe.^[9]

References

1. Pak, Camryn. "FMOTQ to include hygiene packages for homeless, glow stick necklace system for indicating engagement". The Stanford Daily.
2. Prabala, Nikhil. "What's new with FMOTQ?". The Stanford Review. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
3. McNeil, Donald. "Welcomed With Kisses, Stanford Freshmen Risk the 'Kissing Disease'". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
4. The Role & contribution of student affairs in involving colleges. Kuh, George D., Schuh, John H., National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (U.S.) (1st ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. 1991. p. 67. ISBN 0-931654-17-3. OCLC 24906721.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
5. Donaldson, Susan. "Full Moon on the Quad at Stanford". USC Digital Folklore Archives. University of Southern California. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
6. Clark, Phillip. "Stanford Reinstates Full Moon on the Quad For Winter Quarter". The Stanford Review. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
7. James, Susan. "Welcome or Orgy? Stanford Freshmen Love 'Full Moon on the Quad'". ABC News. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
8. "Stanford's Annual Kissing Tradition Toned Down In Wake Of #MeToo". CBS. 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
9. Pak, Camryn. "FMOTQ to include hygiene packages for homeless, glow stick necklace system for indicating engagement". The Stanford Daily. Retrieved 20 July 2020.