At Choate, the word “prefect” is often used in reference to sixth formers who board alongside younger students. A prefect’s role is to act as a student leader, bridging the gap between students and advisers within each dorm. Since many Choate students live on campus, it is considered a boarding school. Despite this nominative generalization, there is, in fact, an exigent number of so-called “day students” hailing from the nearby Connecticut area. Day students commute to attend school, engage in activities, and then return home at the end of the day. In 2018, the existence of day students was confirmed by a press release from the Admissions Office: “We have enrolled students who will be absent from any dormitories on campus. Rather, they will spend their nights in their respective homes.” Now, the existence of day students draws us to a singular question: do day student prefects exist?

  The mythical and oft-forgotten day student prefect is a mysterious creature. Their supposed natural habitat is the Student Activities Center (SAC). Day student prefects are said to have a “duty” near the day student lockers in the SAC throughout the school day. Cameron Vaughn ‘20, who claims to be a day student prefect, spoke to Lorem Ipsum* saying, “One day, I was on duty for D block, so I was just standing by the lockers for 70 minutes. I just stared at the names on the lockers because there was literally nothing else to do. But we’re supposed to stand by the lockers, you know, so I did. One time, this kid came to grab his water bottle, and I got excited, but then he left right after. I just stood there. It was weird.”

Another day prefect, Lucina Heron ‘20, described how she approaches being a day student prefect: “Well, I try to make my interactions meaningful. Basically when I’m walking around I carry an inspirational quote so that if day students are in a study room I can knock on the glass and share my inspiration with them.” Of the day student prefects located and interviewed for this article, many spoke of the frequent and time-consuming events put together for prefectees. “Nobody shows up,” said Joshua Yang ‘20, who organized a cookie baking palooza followed by a trip to the Barker Character Comic and Cartoon Museum for his prefectees. “At this point,” he said solemnly, “most of the events are only attended by the prefects themselves.” 

Despite their “unrecognized efforts,” day student prefects continue to work hard. Nevertheless, boarders maintain that day student prefects are only “glorified hall monitors.” One anonymous fourth form boarder explained to Lorem Ipsum* that “day students aren’t real, so day student prefects can’t be, either.” Day student prefects refute these points, continuing to send endless email reminders and continually pacing through the SAC, on the lookout for an unsuspecting day student to mentor.