As the campus anticipated Green Key Weekend, memories of this year's Winter Carnival, marked by the surprise announcement of the Trustees' Social and Residential Life Initiative and subsequent cancellation of all registered parties for the weekend, were on students' minds.
With the Greek system - a system who's parties currently dominate the weekend's social scene - destined for alteration, the future character of Green Key and other big weekends is anything but certain.
"I hate to think of this as the last Green Key as we know it," Alpha Delta fraternity member Jonah Sonnenborn '99 said. "Everyone considers [Green Key and its traditions] the best time of their Dartmouth careers, and I would hate to see changes that would affect the fun, camaraderie and memories."
"New changes hopefully will only enhance traditions and not diminish what they have given to Dartmouth students past, present and future," Sonnenborn added.
Out with the old
Traditions may have to be reevaluated, altered or replaced in light of the Trustee initiative - and not all of those changes should necessarily be viewed in a negative light, Coed Fraternity and Sorority Council President Jaimie Paul '00 said.
"I think we have incredible traditions here, but I think some aspects are harmful to personal health and the well-being of the campus. To make traditions even stronger by changing particular aspects of them would be great for the College," Paul said.
Paul called Green Key "a celebration of Dartmouth."
"The sunshine is finally out and it's beautiful but it often turns into a drinking fest, an excuse to be completely drunk for four days."
She said she thinks traditions will change - "but so will everything else."
Green Keys of recent years have been seen by many as created and programmed by the Greek system, and there are some students who cannot imagine the weekend in a different form.
"I can't think of Green Key outside of the Greek events that are held," Alpha Xi Delta sorority member Kristin Garro '99 said.
"I honestly don't know what school-sponsored activities there are for Green Key."
During this year's Green Key, the Programming Board will host a comedy show Saturday night and jazz brunch on Sunday morning, Programming Board co-chair Catherine Maxon '99 said.
"In terms of other [big] weekends, there is a bonfire for Homecoming and a sculpture for Carnival, but this weekend there is a lack of the centerpiece. The perception is that it's a party weekend in the frats," Maxon said.
Paul said because Green Key occurs around the time of Greek Week, the CFSC does not directly involve itself with programming for the weekend. Rather, it financially supports Greek houses that sponsor bands and other outdoor artists.
In with the new
If the relationship between the Greek system and Green Key Weekend were phased out, new programming options could emerge.
Acting Dean of the College Dan Nelson said in past decades, Green Key Weekend was more closely related to the Green Key Society, and only recently have many different groups sponsored social events during this weekend.
"None of us know what changes coming out of the Trustee initiative will have implications for the Greek system. I think the weekend has historically involved the campus as a whole, and not just Greek organizations," Nelson said.
Maxon said she thinks in the absence of Greek events, the Programming Board's function might change in terms of social space and funding, but another group would probably sponsor functions, perhaps on the Green.
Nelson said he presumes the weekend will last long into the future - but it could change, particularly de-emphasizing alcohol use during the weekend. He said the high-risk use and abuse of alcohol over Green Key Weekend is an issue the administration has always talked about.
Some students disagree with the perception that alcohol dominates Green Key.
"Of all the weekends [Green Key] has the least party atmosphere. People just enjoy the outdoors," Interfraternity Council President Hondo Sen '00 said.
"It's a misconception. There is so much more than just drinking to these weekends. There is some drinking going on, but I don't feel people rally around that drinking aspect. It's not the catalyst of the whole weekend."
Sen said with changes to the Greek system, substantial events such as performances by nationally-popular bands would be necessary to rouse the student body during big weekends.
Garro said if alcohol consumption during Green Key is not monitored in Greek houses, students would place themselves in unsafe situations by drinking hard alcohol in their dormrooms.
Despite the blurred future social atmosphere for big weekends, a popular bottom line for students is that their fondest memories have occurred during those times.
Garro said the Saturday of her freshman year Green Key was the best day of her life.
"Every day since then have been feeble attempts to duplicate it. I love running around in a tee shirt and shorts. I love dancing outside all afternoon in the sunshine on AD's lawn. I love having barbecues at my house with my sisters. There's just a lot about it that I really love.
"Some of my favorite memories I'll take from Dartmouth will be from Green Key weekends."
