Students may question why all their professors have canceled classes today, or have moved them to different times, when it is not an official College holiday. The answer is tradition.
The reason for the half-day reprieve from classes on the day before the Dartmouth-Harvard game originated more than 35 years ago, College Registrar Thomas Bickel said.
"It used to be the case that the Dartmouth-Harvard game was always played in Cambridge," Bickel said. "The interstate wasn't built at that time, and in order to allow students to get to the game and to get there at a safe hour, the half day break was mandated."
He said the Dartmouth-Harvard game was the biggest game of the year at that time.
Bickel said he has occasionally heard faculty and staff say that they would prefer to move the half-day off to a different day.
"I don't necessarily feel that way," he said. "I think ideally it would be nice to have a long weekend each term, but the terms are very short, and it's hard to do it."
Bickel said the half-day break balances well with the half-day break before Thanksgiving.
While Bickel said he was not sure how long the tradition of giving students time off before the Harvard game has been around, he knows it was happening in 1960, and has continued since.
"It was dropped three years ago when the game was here because of calendar problems and we had to start the year late," he said. "There was never any intention to make [the removal of the half-day] permanent."
Many students are taking advantage of their time off -- whether or not they are going to see the game.
Alexandra Landsman '97, who has never gone to a Dartmouth football game, said she is going to Boston on a trip organized by Hillel.
"I definitely want to see a football game," Landsman said. "I have some friends at Harvard I want to see as well."
Chris Winship '97 said he is going to Boston today with several of his friends.
"We're going to stay in a hotel and have a really great time," Winship said. "I'm psyched because a lot of people are going to be there."
Winship said he is excited because a lot of events are going on in Boston as well, such as the women's soccer game. He said he plans to attend that game as well.
Other students have travel plans this weekend, but will not travel to Harvard.
"I'm going home to see my family in New York since we have a four-day weekend," Jasmine Elwick '99 said
David Galazin '97 said he is driving to Washington, D.C. with a friend just for the fun of it.
Many students involved in sports are unable to attend the Harvard game.
Anna McCall-Taylor '00 said she has a crew race Saturday morning which will prevent here from attending the game and Jeff Tam Sing '98 said a water polo tournament will take up his entire weekend.
Others, like Ryan Molde '97, have other activities that will prevent them from going to Boston.
Molde said he would like to head for Harvard, but has to work the ski swap this weekend.
Beth French '99 said she is going with Cabin and Trail to work on the roof of Armington Cabin, and will be gone the entire weekend.