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The Michigan Daily - Wednesday October 22,2008

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 - The Michigan Daily <7C]

Iyou build it, -
Discussing real estate nowadays, words like "foreclosure" and "stagnation"
with all those big, expensive apartments sproul

For the residents of certain campus
houses, throwing wild parties
s sacred tradition


CHANEL VONHABSBUR
A three-story beer bong has been a feature of this State Street apartment for years.

)THRINGEN/Dail

Home of the three-story
beer bong

In the 914 apartments on State Street,
apartment 301 comes equipped with a
dishwasher, an on-site washer and dryer
and one very unique amenity - a three-
story beer bong.
Vince McKeon, a 2008 University gradu-
ate who moved into the apartment this fall,
said the beer bong has been a trademark of
the football Saturday party spot for as long
as he can remember.
"Ever since I was a student here, four
years ago now, it was definitely around
when I came here, and I used to come here
during high school and it was around then
too," he said.
McKeon signed for (real estate com-
pany) apartment with the expectation of
continuing the tradition, but when he and
his roommate, 2008 University graduate
James Johnson, moved in at the beginning
of the school year they were surprised at
what they saw, or rather, didn't see.
The beer bong, which they expected to
come with the apartment, was missing.
But that didn't stop McKeon and his
roommate. They immediately started look-
ing for supplies, and after purchasing 40
feet of clear plastic tubing and an orange
funnel, were ready to continue the tradi-
tion for before the first football game of the
season.
"It was something we wanted to do. We

both went here for undergraduate and we
felt like this was something that would be
fun to do, as well as carry on the tradition,"
McKeon said. "I think a lot of people actu-
ally look forward to seeing it, walking to
the game and seeing who's actually taking
the bong."
The State-Street beer bong has serviced
the needs of many Michigan tailgaters over
the years, from college freshman eager to
impress their friends, to returning alumni
reliving their glory days at the University.
McKeon said he has even heard of grand-
mothers steppingup to the plate and down-
ing a beer or two with their grandkids.
Anyone walking by is welcome to have
a go at the bong, McKeon said. Although,
he warns that it's not the same as drinking
from a normal beer bong.
"It's so long and the pressure in it is so
high that you can pretty much only handle
one beer," he said.
But whomever moves into the apartment
next should be able to chug - McKeon said
he will try to instill in the next residents a
proper appreciation for the legacy of the
bong.
"It's got to be done in my book," he said.
"So I think we would probably hand it
down. But if they didn't want it, what are
you going to do about it? That would be dis-
appointing, that's for sure."