Many people think Dartmouth's remote location precludes any sort of active social life, yet a wide range of social options are thriving in this sleepy New England town.
With 16 fraternities and six sororities, including two historically black sororities and two historically black fraternities, much of campus social life revolves around Greek parties.
In addition to single-sex organizations, Dartmouth has three coeducational Greek Houses and two undergraduate societies, which include men and women in their membership.
Much to the chagrin of the administration, many of these shin-digs do have the tendency to resemble "Animal House" -- a 1960s movie based on Dartmouth's Alpha Delta fraternity. But during the fall, these parties are closed to first-year students.
In fact, during their first fall here, most freshmen will learn to love "dorm parties" -- hot, sweaty, tightly-packed gatherings which happen under the constant threat of being broken up by Safety and Security.
It should not be forgotten that contrary to the olden days, it is illegal for students under-21 to be found with alcohol in their rooms. Many first-year students are surprised by Campus Po's late night visits to dorm rooms, but they are not uncommon during freshman fall.
If traditional college partying is not one's style, the Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts, offers many movies, shows and plays for the intellectual in everyone.
A student movie pass can be purchased at registration for a minimal fee which can be billed to the student's account, allowing access to all movies at The Hop for the term.
In addition, the Programming Board often hosts concerts and student activities. This summer the Programming Board organized a trip to the Big Apple Circus as part of their summer activities.
Last year, such performers as the Indigo Girls, The Dave Matthews Band, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Natalie Merchant and Winton Marsalis performed at the College as part of the Programming Board's events.
In addition, saxophonist Maceo Parker performed during Green Key Weekend in front of Phi Delta Alpha fraternity.
The four big party weekends at the College are Homecoming in the fall, Winter Carnival in the winter, Green Key in the spring and Tubestock in the summer. For each weekend there are specific Dartmouth activities and traditions.
Homecoming weekend begins with "Dartmouth Night" on Friday evening. The "freshman sweep" is the coming together of all first-year students, which begins in two separate places and ends up as a part of the town parade.
Following traditional speeches in front of Dartmouth Hall, the bonfire, the large wooden structure built by the freshmen, is ignited and the first-year students begin their journey running around it as many times as the number in their class year designates. This year's class is lucky enough to run around the bonfire 99 times.
Students must be forewarned the bonfire has the tendency to get extremely hot. There is a tendency to see a lot of 'shmen baring their skin during the evening.But more importantly, a few students who have run too close to the flames have been seriously burned.
Homecoming culminates with the football game on Saturday afternoon.
One Dartmouth tradition is that first-year students "rush the field" during half-time.
They start in the Dartmouth bleachers, cross the field and run up to the top of the opposite bleachers. In recent years the administration has placed Safety and Security Officers in front of the bleachers to dissuade first-year students from rushing the field.
Winter Carnival is traditionally the celebration of winter sports but has in recent years become just one more party weekend. It is famous for the student-built snow sculpture out on the center of the Green.
Green Key Weekend is Dartmouth's celebration of the Green Key Society -- the College's Junior community service society -- and the coming of spring. After a long, Hanover winter, students are ready to celebrate the ending of the snow season and the changing of colors from white to green.
Outdoor bands and activities on the Green sponsored by the Programming Board are a large part of the Weekend with Greek houses participating in the "Greek Olympics."
Tubestock is traditionally a weekend for sophomores during "sophomore summer." Members of the sophomore class all rent inner tubes and tube down the Connecticut River in a class bonding celebration of summer.
