Tubestock is still scheduled for this weekend because of some frantic planning by members of the Class of 1996 after the event's host apparently called it off earlier this week.
Though not all details have been finalized, Tubestock will be held on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. on the Connecticut River.
Tubestock was created by Richard "Boomer" Akerboom '80, who held a party for his friends during the summer of 1987. During Tubestock, students slowly float down the river on rafts and tubes while drinking alcohol.
But Akerboom, a member of Chi Heorot fraternity during his days at the College, will not be organizing this year's Tubestock.
Mary O'Connor '96 sent a widely-circulated BlitzMail message saying Tubestock was not going to be this weekend.
"I just got out of a Programming Board meeting and found out that unfortunately Tubestock won't be this weekend," she wrote. "The guy who usually holds it is about to close on his house and has some boundary problem or something."
Akerboom could not be reached for comment.
Seeing that the "tradition" was about to be broken, Ryan FitzSimons '96 said he decided to organize the event.
"It's an annual event and it would be a shame for it not to happen. Winter Carnival and Green Key happen every year, but Tubestock is only once in four years," FitzSimons said.
FitzSimons said people were upset at Akerboom because the weekend might be off, but said Akerboom "did everything he could, he did everything possible."
Some rumors were circulating that Tubestock was going to be postponed until Aug.13, but FitzSimons said if it did not happen this weekend, it probably wouldn't happen at all.
He said he did most of the organizing himself, and some of his friends are helping him sell t-shirts and tubes. He said has been scurrying to get several permits.
Although all the plans have not yet been made, FitzSimons said a DJ will be there.
"Where there's a will, there's a way," he said. "We're going to make it fly."
Last year FitzSimons said 800 tubes were purchased and sold, but this year only 600 tubes were ordered. A compressor will be available at the river to inflate the tubes.
He said he has made a substantial investment in Tubestock. He would not comment how much he has spent so far, but said it is "a lot more than I thought."
Tubestock gets no official support from the College mostly because of safety concerns, Programming Coordinator Linda Kennedy. She said the College has never considered sponsoring Tubestock.
"I think it's pretty clear why the College wants nothing whatsoever to do with the event. After all, we don't permit alcohol around the river front," she wrote in a BlitzMail message.
"The class is for the most part underage and the mixture of a bunch of un-seaworthy vessels (inflatables), some poor swimmers, a river current, cold water, alcohol in unregulated amounts, hot sun and underage people does not make for the kind of environment for a safe event," she wrote.
The Hanover Police Department is also aware of Tubestock.
"Normally, in the past it's been pretty uneventful for us," said Hanover Police Sergeant Chris O'Connor.
Like the College, O'Connor said the police's main concern is with the students' safety.
"We are concerned about alcohol on the water. Any students participating should refrain from drinking because it impairs good decision making," O'Connor said.
In addition, the New Hampshire Marine Patrol will have a few officers on the water to monitor the activity.
Many people are looking forward to Tubestock.
"I think Tubestock is so popular because it attracts a lot of alumni," said Melinda Holl '96, another organizer of the event. "Also, it's a great rage. Not just students are involved, either. The Hanover residents bring their boats out and are totally psyched to hang with the students."
"Plus, what better activity is there for a hot summer day," she added.
