It was the best attended Fuel event yet, organizers of the Ronald Reagan Birthday Bash joked.
"If we burn down Fuel, I guarantee we double our attendance," one participant said, gesturing to the red, white and blue votive candles patriotically festooning the room.
Although the celebration of the former president's 92nd birthday attracted no more than 13 or 14 students at a time, the College Republicans, who put on the event, seemed pleased with the turnout and welcomed a chance to resurrect an old group tradition.
"It's just kind of a fun, low-key celebration," event organizer Kathleen Reeder '03 said. "We just wanted to celebrate the Gipper's birthday."
Not everyone was satisfied with the low turnout, although partygoers remained good-humored, chowing down on soda, pizza, candy and chocolate birthday cake and taking turns hacking away at a brightly colored pinata.
"I would have liked to see more participation," Bill Quirk '06 said. "I know there are a lot of Republicans out there, but they're closet Republicans. I think it's time people came out and admitted their political affiliations."
Nevertheless, the event attracted considerable interest from the community, Reeder said, although some may have been confused that the celebration did not occur until a week after Reagan's actual birthday on Feb. 6.
"We had calls and blitzes from about a half a dozen community members asking about it -- so that was really exciting," she said.
At one point during the event, a middle-aged man wearing a leather jacket and a scarf walked in looking a little lost and asked whether the birthday party would involve alcohol. The organizers laughed and said no, at which point he left.
Several states, including Reagan's home state, Illinois, and Connecticut honor the former president annually on his birthday, which they have officially dubbed "Ronald Reagan Day."
Last week, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Ca. staged a large celebration with cake, jelly beans and a giant card that participants were encouraged to sign.
Reeder said she was not aware of any other similar such celebrations at other schools, although it has long been a tradition at Dartmouth.
Until last year, Dartmouth's celebration was held every February in the Hyphen and featured a performance by the Aires, College Republicans President Matt Raymer '03 said
Due to lack of funding this year, though, this year's event featured smooth jazz music from the Extensions Jazz Combo. One student typed a music review on his laptop as part of a Music class assignment, while a couple of others took tentatively to the dance floor.
After about an hour of eating and chatting, participants settled down to watch some movies from the 80s.
"It's a tribute to the era," Quirk said.
