With just over 1,000 students on campus, many, who spoke with The Dartmouth, said they believe sophomore summer has opened the door for more mixed and open interaction between their classmates, though some said they expect the new social scene to end with the Summer term.
"It feels a lot like orientation," Tom Dempsey '02 said. "People are ready to meet people all over again."
Due largely to the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council's strict regulations on parties at Greek houses, many students told The Dartmouth that night life has shifted to off-campus houses, a move that many say has opened and diversified the social scene.
"I think there's a good cross section of people at parties [this summer]," said Nigel D'Souza '02. "It is more open for all kinds of people because it is not like a 'party hearty' thing. Not everyone's hammered, you'll find people chilling out and relaxing.
Melanie Broad '02, who hosted a party at her house at 8 School Street near the beginning of the term recalled that, when inviting students, they "broke out the Green Book and invited anyone we sort of knew or were sort of friends with."
Along with D'Souza, Broad also felt that the summer social scene differs much from that of the normal school year.
"The parties are a lot more conversation oriented. [At fraternities] there's normally another option like dancing or listening to a band," she said.
Katie Pasciucco '02 felt that the move to off campus parties is very positive for the campus. "I just think frats can be a comfort zone for certain people," she said. "Having an off campus party forces people out of their comfort zone and creates a more diverse [atmosphere] for people."
Ali Piper '02, along with housemate Pasciucco, hosted a packed party last Friday night at 40 Lebanon Street. The neighbors were surprisingly supportive, according to Piper.
"The next morning one of our neighbors -- an elderly woman-- came over and said, 'It sounded like you had a lovely party. It was very under-control and it seemed like you were having so much fun,'" she recalled.
Piper noted that she has also been enjoying the summer scene. She said she had especially enjoyed a party recently held at the 'ABCD apartments' on West Wheelock Street. "It was very neat that those four apartments threw it together. It felt like a very coed scene."
While many of the students interviewed by the Dartmouth praised the diversified scene of sophomore summer, others expressed doubt that the friendliness will last after the end of summer.
"I know it sounds pessimistic," said Adam Wilson '02, "but I think that junior year will balance the benefits that come with sophomore summer. After being away from Dartmouth for six months, people are more likely to reconnect with their old friends."
Sophomore Marcus Rowe's sentiments echoed that of Wilson's. "Sophomore summer helps strengthen old friendships more than new friendships," he said. Though, "I think it depends on the person," he added.
David Cohen '02 disagreed, however. "I'm not going to come back to Dartmouth and be like, 'I don't know you [to people I met during the term],'" he said.
"I think what will last [after sophomore summer] is that you'll know a whole lot more people," Dempsey said. "It will kind of open up your world a little bit."
