Before they prepare to embark into a world without DASH and dorms, seniors remembered what makes the College what it is and bonded with their classmates during Senior Week.
"Basically, we're trying to provide food," said Etoile Pinder '98, who co-organized the week. Pinder said that, since DDS closes on June 9, seniors have to find places to eat while waiting for graduation.
The week began on Tuesday with a Mardis Gras BBQ on the Gold Coast lawn, followed later that night with a Masquerade Ball in Collis Common Ground.
Wednesday, June 10, Pinder described as "the DOC's day." Seniors hiked up Moosilauke "all day and night," and free canoe rentals were available to seniors at the Ledyard Canoe Club.
Students also had an opportunity to take Miniversity classes on Wednesday, their "last chance to take beer tasting," Pinder said.
Pinder said there was a showing of "Animal House" on the side of Blunt Alumni Center on Wednesday, and a special offer at EBAs -- free food and 25c drafts.
"We really had tremendous cooperation on the part of Hanover merchants," Pinder said. "They're the best."
On Thursday, seniors were invited to Storr's pond for food, drinks and use of its recreational facilities. That night, Hanover merchants offered a number of discounts to the departing class.
Pinder said she and Anne Behrens '98 have been planning the events since last October and tried to include a mix of traditional gatherings, like the Storr's Pond activities, and unique events.
"We tried to have things just for the class of '98," Pinder said. One of these special events was "last punch day." Since the class of 1998 was the last to experience both Full Fare (present-day Westside) and the punch system, the last event of senior week was a Champagne Brunch, "as a final DDS meal."
During their last 24 hours as Dartmouth undergrads, seniors participated in a tradition nearly as old as the College itself -- class day. During class day, all seniors gathered in the Bema and shared their experiences at Dartmouth.
The tradition of breaking clay pipes on the stump of the Old Pine during class day was discontinued in 1993, when students decided the activity was insensitive to Native Americans. Instead, seniors toasted their alma mater with clay cups, which they then smashed in the same manner as the pipes.
This practice was discontinued when students were injured by flying shards of clay.
This year, "we're not breaking anything," said Chair of the Senior Executive Committee Kevin Walsh '98, who planned the Class Day events.
