Are the following phrases still used - trolling, flicking? how about 3AM runs to Tommy's? and The Ride? finesse vs brute force and ignorance?
flicking - playing
3AM runs to Tommy's? - just fun thing to do, just because
The Ride - The Ride of the Valkyries was played, and only played, at the beginning of finals week. The KCAL radio station in Page House would play it, then everyone with a stereo would tune in so it was all synchronized all over campus, all at maximum volume. Playing it any other time meant you'd get tossed in the pond.
finesse - doing something artful and clever, like redesigning a motor to be more efficient so more torque is produced.
brute force and ignorance - the straightforward approach, like upping the voltage so more torque is produced.
There was a loophole. You could play it at other times if you were playing the complete opera it is from.
I did that a couple times, although to be extra safe I believe I did the whole four opera Ring cycle instead of just the one containing the Ride.
Trolling, flicking - I never heard anyone say these, but had heard they were used in the past. Along those lines, flaming or flaming out was used for failing out or needing to take terms off.
A few people still did 3AM Tommy's. Negative time Tommy's was a significant event in at least a few houses.
The Ride tradition was definitely around, with the only sanctioned playing on mornings of finals
I never heard anyone say finesse, brute force, or ignorance
Not even on ditch day [1]?
[1] https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/ditch-day-today-39501
And true, the only interactions I had with grad students was with TAs.