STANFORD, Calif. — In the wee hours of yesterday morning, the decision was made: Patrick "Patchez" Fortune ‘09 will be the next Tree.

How does he feel about it?

"Really damn good," Fortune said. "Little tired, little sore, but feeling strong in the soul."

This year’s Tree, John Whipple ‘10, made the final decision in conjunction with band manager Liz Schackmann ‘08, assistant band manager Nate Foorman ‘09 and incoming drum major David Borowitz ‘08.

Immediately prior to the decision, all candidates go through a final interview before the four mentioned band members. Once the new Tree has been selected, band members assemble at the Shack and head out en masse to initiate the new Tree.

"There were probably 50 or so people there," Whipple said. "All the new Dollies, all the current Dollies."

"It was a lot of dancing, a lot of revelry, a ton of fun," Fortune added.

As part of the initiation rites, Fortune said he received his vest, a symbol that’s been around since the Tree’s inception, which Whipple wore proudly every day during this year’s Tree Week.

"The same one has been passed down," he said. "It’s never been washed, from what I’ve been led to understand, and I’m going to continue that."

Interestingly, Fortune commented that the vest did not smell too bad, "not as bad as I would have thought it would."

At tomorrow night’s basketball game, the title of Tree will officially pass from Whipple to Fortune.

Whipple has fond memories of his own first appearance as Tree, an event that is annually entitled "Sprout Night."

"Either at halftime or towards the end of the game, [last year’s Tree and I] ran out there and had planned that he would throw off his costume and I would throw it on," Whipple said. "That was the first time I had ever put on the Tree. But I think he actually got in trouble for doing that because he’s not supposed to take the costume off."

After attending last night’s basketball game, Fortune said that he saw the Tree in a whole new light.

"Now I’m just ready to put it on and see how it feels," he said. "I’m just ready for my year. It’s going to be the best year of my life."

Fortune also said that he has lots of design ideas in mind for creating his own costume.

"I’m definitely not going for a palm tree design," he said. "But I’m hoping for changeable faces. I want to give lots of expressions."

Whipple said that the selection committee took all three original Tree candidates, including Jack Cackler, into consideration when making their decision.

"We didn’t only just consider Forrest [White ‘10] and Patchez, we also considered Jack," he said. "Patrick was the one we chose because he displayed all the things we wanted to see."