Led by the Dartmouth Class of 1953, the annual Dartmouth Night Parade will begin tonight at 7:30.
Members of the Classes of 1926 through 1998 will participate in the event. The tradition of Dartmouth Night began in 1895 as a form of freshman orientation.
Except for a brief five-year respite due to a lack of interest beginning in 1967, the Dartmouth community has celebrated the Dartmouth Night tradition for the past 99 years. The event has changed dramatically over the years.
While Dartmouth Night today is filled with excitement and celebration, the first one was a formal affair in which alumni delivered lengthy addresses to the College.
Alumni have always played a crucial role in the activities of Dartmouth Night. This year, loyal alumni will return to Hanover to take part in tonight's Homecoming activities.
Hundreds of '98s will participate in the Freshman Sweep before the parade begins. The sweep begins in the River residential cluster and gathers freshmen until the group reaches Lebanon Street.
The parade route will start by the Lodge residential hall on Lebanon Street, continue down Main Street and conclude on Wentworth Street in front of Webster Hall, according to a map provided by Blunt Alumni Center.
In addition to the classes, the Dartmouth cheerleaders, marching band and representatives from the football, field hockey and women's cross country teams will be involved in the parade.
Marching bands from area high schools such as Lebanon and Windsor High Schools will also perform, Acting Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs Lali Otterness '92 said.
The Classes of 1926, 1929, 1932 and 1934 will travel the parade route by car and members of the Class of 1950 marching in the parade will be accompanied by a fire truck from the Hanover Fire Department, Otterness said.
Following the parade, the speeches will begin. President Freedman and Alumni Council president Joel Leavitt '50 will address the College. Secretary Emeritus of the College J. Michael McGean '49 will serve as master of ceremonies.
According to Cheryl Reynolds, secretary to the Board of Trustees, Freedman will be making "brief remarks."
After the speeches, which will last approximately 30 minutes, the Dartmouth Glee Club will perform under the direction of Louis Burkott.
Following the performance, freshmen will ignite the bonfire.
As excitement builds around tonight's events, College officials are optimistic that this year's Dartmouth Night will be free of incidents.
Last year, citizens of Hanover expressed concern when several street signs were uprooted during the Freshman Sweep and a glass door was smashed at the entrance to the Hopkins Center for the Performing Arts.
"Students, in a joint effort with Alumni Relations, the Freshman Office and the Office of Student Life, have worked hard to organize the Freshman Sweep," Otterness said.
"We have taken measures to assure the safety of the participants and people watching," she said.
Otterness said she believes Dartmouth Night will be successful this year.
"I'm very positive about the evening. It should be an exciting event this year," she said.
