Returning alumni will scarcely have a free moment this weekend. Scores of activities are scheduled which aim to recognize distinguished alumni, celebrate special anniversaries and promote class unity.
Tonight marks the 100th anniversary of Dartmouth Night, a tradition where thousands of Dartmouth students and alumni flock to the Green to listen to speeches on the steps of Dartmouth Hall and witness the lighting of the bonfire.
Kicking off this year's celebration will be the Dartmouth Torchlight Parade.
The Office of Alumni Relations is expecting marchers to span from the Class of 1926 to the Class of 1999. Leading the parade will be the 1995 classes of the year -- the Classes of 1934 and 1969.
The renowned Lambert Trophy football team of 1970, Dartmouth's last undefeated football team, will march in the parade to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their title.
Former Sports Information Director Jack DeGange said, "The 1970 team is perhaps the best team the Ivy League has seen since 1956."
According to DeGange, the 1970 team went undefeated as Ivy League champions and won the coveted Lambert trophy as most outstanding team in the East that year.
The team also reached 14th in the ranks of football teams across the country.
"They were clearly one of the Ivy League's all-time best teams, led by an All-American linebacker, Murry Bowden, and quarterback Jim Chasey, who played professional football," he said. "Also, we had the Rhodes Scholar defensive back Willie Bogan. All of these people are active alumni."
DeGange said nearly 50 members of the team and their family members will attend this weekend's homecoming events.
"This is a weekend of deserved recognition for an exceptional team and a fine coach," DeGange said.
Bob Blackman, coach of the 1970 team will speak at tonight's ceremony.
Brooks Clark '78, the great-grandson of former College president William Jewett Tucker who began the Dartmouth Night tradition in 1895, will also speak at tonight's ceremony.
Clark's speech will "reflect on the Dartmouth Night ceremony created by his great-grandfather," Director of Alumni Relations Elizabeth Appel said.
The parade, speeches and lighting of the bonfire will be followed by an open house with cider and doughnuts for alumni at the Zimmerman Lounge in the Blunt Aumni Center.
Tomorrow morning, the Class of 1951 is sponsoring a speech given by Professors Don Pease and Bill Cook entitled "Ted Geisel's [Dr. Seuss' '25] Life and Humor." The speech will be delivered in Loew Auditorium.
Numerous sporting events are scheduled for tomorrow as well. First, the men's lacrosse team will challenge the alumni at Sachem Field, and the women's field hockey team will take on the alumni at Red Rolfe Field.
The women's lacrosse team and the men's and women's squash teams will also challenge the alumni.
Just before noon, a reception and buffet luncheon for alumni and guests will be held at the Leverone Field House.
A few hours later, the Dartmouth men's football team will take on Colgate in the Homecoming game.
At 2pm, a reunion is scheduled for "young alumni" -- from the Class of 1986 to the Class of 1995 -- under a tent on the Alumni Gym lawn.
The women's ice hockey team will take on the alumni to cap off the busy weekend for Dartmouth's alumni.
Mini-reunions for more than 42 Dartmouth classes will also take place this weekend, according to Appel.
The Office of Alumni Relations is expecting a strong turnout this year, perhaps even stronger than past years due to the 100th anniversary celebration, Appel said.
Director of Alumni Relations Nelson Armstrong said, "It's going to be a lot of fun and very interesting. It's an event that has alumni returning from all over the place."
