Refresh and Reboot

Students said they felt rejuvenated after given the opportunity to wash, shower and receive a foot massage around 2:40 a.m. Saturday.

"I feel much better," Ajay Vaidya said after taking a shower. "The foot massage will help too."

DM participants showered in shifts during the third block. Males and females were segregated and brought down to the basement bathroom of Norris in a spacious elevator.

They were allowed 90 seconds to wash their sweaty, tired bodies.

"They enforced it pretty strictly," said Vaidya, a SESP senior. A 30 second courtesy warning was given.

Upstairs, a long row of students lined up along the second floor corridor to receive much-appreciated foot massages from DM volunteers.

Donning latex gloves, DM volunteer Stephanie Lecci helped pamper students' feet.

"Foot massages aren't the most pleasant experience," the Medill senior said. "But I think (the dancers) feel better afterwards."

Lecci, who is slated to dance between 6 and 9 a.m., coaxed students' feet out onto the plastic tarp, massaged them for two minutes and applied a variety of soothing lotions such as Purell and baby lotion.

The scent of baby powder emanated through the second-floor corridor as Lecci and other volunteers finished their massages.

"The baby powder is key," Lecci said. "It dries the feet."

As an amateur masseuse, Lecci said she hopes her foot massages have a positive effect on tired dancers.

"Although I did foot massages last year, I mostly do whatever I think would feel good," she said.

Students seem appreciative of the volunteers' efforts to make their experience comfortable.

"I'm ready to go back now," Vaidya said.

Text: Paul Takahashi/The Daily Northwestern

Photo:
(Top)
Paul Takahashi/The Daily Northwestern

(Bottom)
Joanna Allerhand/The Daily Northwestern