The Houston Press suggested the college began adopting a theme for each year's party in 1976. However, it is wrong. According to the founders, togas and minimal clothing was there at the beginning. It has been suggested that in the 1970s and 1980s, many of the themes were historical and/or apocalyptic in nature (e.g. The Fall of Rome, Caligula, Armageddon, Animal Farm, the Trojan War). Again, according to the founders, that is incorrect, at least for the first years. The founders were not going for historical or apocalyptic: The founders made a conscious decision to name the year's NOD with a nod to a movie title. By the 1990s the themes were generally sexual puns, often based on movie titles (e.g., James Bondage, Lust in Space).  Regardless of the stated theme, the decorations for NODwere overtly sexual . For many years NOD's trademark was "Sparky", a giant phallus built of papier-mâché and suspended from the ceiling of the Commons. (Sparky's also became the nickname of Wiess's basement game room.) Often Sparky was aligned with a corresponding anatomical prop at the other end of the room; one year a motor was added to move Sparky back and forth during the party. In some years a second Sparky was constructed with internal tubing that delivered Everclear punch from an upstairs mixing area to a suitably shaped serving trough below. Instead of traditional costumes, students dress as degenerately (or as minimally) as possible. Pregnant nuns and drag dress are some of the tamer outfits. Although there are always several people creatively attired in Saran Wrap or fishnet stockings and pasties, a typical costume is boxer shorts for men, and bra and panties for women.  Because of its overtly sexual context, NOD eventually became a polarizing event on the Rice campus. The university administration has several times tried to shut down the party because of its ability to promote a culture of sexual assault and excessive alcohol abuse. Alternative events on campus include the rapidly growing Evening of Elegance (recently started in 2014),  Night of Innocence (offered since at least the 1980s) , and, in previous years, Night of Praise and NODgeball. NOD had long been one of the most popular parties on campus, though the decorations have become more conservative in recent years. Each year over one thousand people are usually expected to attend NOD . Recently, however, the party has struggled to break even and is on the point of actually losing money .
The Houston Press suggested the college began adopting a theme for each year's party in 1976. However, it is wrong. According to the founders, togas and minimal clothing was there at the beginning. It has been suggested that in the 1970s and 1980s, many of the themes were historical and/or apocalyptic in nature (e.g. The Fall of Rome, Caligula, Armageddon, Animal Farm, the Trojan War). Again, according to the founders, that is incorrect, at least for the first years. The founders were not going for historical or apocalyptic: The founders made a conscious decision to name the year's NOD with a nod to a movie title. By the 1990s the themes were generally sexual puns, often based on movie titles (e.g., James Bondage, Lust in Space). In the past, the university administration tried to shut down the party because of concerns about alcohol use and harassment due to NOD's sexual nature. For many years NOD's trademark was "Sparky", a giant phallus built of papier-mâché and suspended from the ceiling of the Commons. (Sparky's also became the nickname of Wiess's basement game room.) Often Sparky was aligned with a corresponding anatomical prop at the other end of the room; one year a motor was added to move Sparky back and forth during the party. In some years a second Sparky was constructed with internal tubing that delivered Everclear punch from an upstairs mixing area to a suitably shaped serving trough below. At NOD, students may wear whatever makes them comfortable. A typical costume is boxer shorts for men, and bra and panties for women. Starting in the 2010s, NOD has featured a Halloween costume contest, offering prizes to students who come wearing the most creative URL Because of its sexual context, NOD eventually became a polarizing event on the Rice campus. Other events on campus such as Evening of Elegance (recently started in 2014), and Night of Innocence (offered since at least the 1980s) provide students with diverse social options, many choosing to attend more than one URL NOD had long been one of the most popular parties on campus, though the decorations have become more conservative in recent years. Each year over one thousand people are usually expected to attend NOD .
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In the past, the university administration tried to shut down the party because of concerns about alcohol use and harassment due to NOD's sexual nature.
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Regardless of the stated theme, the decorations for NODwere overtly sexual .
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Instead of traditional costumes, students dress as degenerately (or as minimally) as possible. Pregnant nuns and drag dress are some of the tamer outfits. Although there are always several people creatively attired in Saran Wrap or fishnet stockings and pasties, a
At NOD, students may wear whatever makes them comfortable. A
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Starting in the 2010s, NOD has featured a Halloween costume contest, offering prizes to students who come wearing the most creative URL
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overtly
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The university administration has several times tried to shut down the party because of its ability to promote a culture of sexual assault and excessive alcohol abuse. Alternative
Other
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include the rapidly growing
such as
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and
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, and, in previous years, Night of Praise and NODgeball.
provide students with diverse social options, many choosing to attend more than one URL
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. Recently, however, the party has struggled to break even and is on the point of actually losing money