Despite the build up and enthusiasm that surrounds Winter Carnival weekend, the Winter term holiday seems best characterized by what one makes of it. While scores of unique College-sponsored events and hyped Greek parties abound, student reaction remains mixed.
"I didn't really know that there was anything to Winter Carnival besides excessive drinking, but then I got all these blitzes about things going on, so I thought I'd go to something," Luis Dominguez '07 said. "I think I'd be lying if I said most people consider Winter Carnival nothing more than a good excuse for debauchery, but I feel like a lot of people do participate in events."
Ivy Pruss '07, however, disagrees. Pruss said that she did not participate in any Carnival events her first-tear at the College, and that most people she knew did not attend either.
"It didn't really sound like that much fun," Pruss said.
Other students said they did participate and found the activities enjoyable.
Despite mixed student sentiment, records indicate that many events attracted a strong turnout last year. The Occom Pond party drew 2,500 people, including 1,000 students, according to the Hanover Parks and Recreation Department, which organizes the event. The human dogsled race attracted 25 teams of 5 last year, as well as hundreds of spectators, event organizer Chris Polashenski '07 said. The Carnie Classic included the ski team and 30 other students, organizer Anthony Bramante '06 told The Dartmouth.
Winter Carnival also entails an active Greek scene over the weekend. Psi Upsilon social chairman Tim Millikin '05 estimates that 20 to 40 alumni return over the weekend and that 30 to 50 percent more students attend their parties.
"People just seem to forget their outside commitments and come to fraternities for parties or afternoon pong," Millikin said.
Millikin also thinks that returning alumni play an important role in Greek life over Winter Carnival weekend.
"Things can sometimes be a little rowdier than they usually are if [alumni] try to get back into their college-party mode," Millikin said.
Chi Herot social chairman Bart van Veghel '06 said that the Winter Carnival Greek scene is what you make of it.
"Winter Carnival can be anything that you want it to be. For some it's a chance to cut loose, but for others it's pretty much the same thing," van Veghel '06 said.
Pruss agreed that Greek houses were more active during Winter Carnival, while Dominguez commented on the distinct feeling of alumni presence on the social scene.
"This one time [during Winter Carnival], I went out to a frat and there was an alum there. This was the first time I'd played against an alum, and the first time I'd seen an alum smoke up in front of me," Dominguez said.