For Dartmouth students, Green Key has always been a chance to cut loose in a relaxed atmosphere at outdoor events such as the Alpha Delta fraternity lawn party and Webster Avenue barbecues. While students in other climes may not be as desperate for warmth and sunshine as those in Hanover, many other schools also partake in the spring traditions.
Each year on the last day of classes, Cornell University students enjoy Slope Day, a day of celebration and debauchery held on Libe Slope, a large campus hill. Originating in 1979 as "Slope Fest," the event was sponsored by the campus until the national drinking age was raised to 21, making it logistically difficult for the college to sponsor alcohol for the event.
Like Dartmouth, the event has become centered on excess drinking and partying. But the social scene at Cornell makes for a markedly different weekend experience than that of Green Key.
"Ithaca also has a lot of bars and restaurants, so that is a big option in the night scene that doesn't really happen in Hanover," Cynthia Tsai '06, who attended this year's Slope Day, said.
Slope Day also differs in that it is only a one-day event and centers around a big-name concert. This year's performers were Snoop Dog and The Game, who helped draw 15,000 students to the event.
"What's good about Cornell is they are able to or have enough money to actually bring huge performers," Tsai said.
Many schools bring in similarly high-profile performers for their spring weekends. At the cost of $40,000, Brown brought rocker Ben Folds to its Spring Weekend, held on the last weekend of classes in spring term. Ben Folds performed under a shadow of discontent, however, since the weekend coincided with Passover this year. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Reel Big Fish and Jurassic 5 have been among the headliners of the Providence festivities in the past.
The University of Pennsylvania, which holds a two-day Spring Fling each year, also ran into some problems this year. Outdoor concerts on their main quad are usually the highlight of the weekend, with big-name artists like Wyclef Jean playing in the past. The announcement of this year's lesser-known performers, Sonic Youth, Citizen Cope and Cat Power, provoked a large number of disappointed and displeased reactions.
Harvard University has a much more subdued spring celebration. Springfest, Harvard's big spring event, is very family oriented. With 13,500 attendees last year, Springfest is seeking to reach out to the undergraduate social scene by adding an after-party specifically for undergraduates. After some Harvard students groups protested a Snoop Dog concert due to his sometimes misogynistic lyrics and negotiations with the rapper fell through, Harvard settled for student performers to provide evening entertainment.
Despite the various spring parties, Dartmouth is unique in the fact that it centers completely on the student social scene. Barbecues, fraternity parties and a fund-raising festival on the Green will highlight the weekend rather than a high-profile concert.