This Saturday marks what organizers hope will be the beginning of a new sophomore summer tradition: Fieldstock. Starting with chariot races on the Green at 3 p.m., the event also includes an EBAs barbecue, a cover band, mud wrestling and volleyball on the Bema.
The chariot races will be divided into male and female divisions for the races. Originally a coed division was planned, but the Fieldstock committee canceled it due to lack of interest. Approximately six teams will compete in each division, split into two heats of three teams each, with a final race for each division determining the champions.
The charioteers and the audience members will be permitted to use water guns. The throwing or spraying of any other substances, such as traditional favorites like vegetables, urine, beer and kitchenware, is prohibited. Trophies engraved with the names of the team members will be awarded to both the winning and the most spirited teams.
"I don't think that there will be many problems," Tess Reeder '08, Class Council president and Fieldstock committee member, said. "The only possible problem would be people acting in a way that they have in past chariot races, just because they have heard or read so much about them. What people have to understand is that the only way that the races could come back is if no one would be hurt this time."
After the chariot races have been completed, Fieldstock will continue on the Bema with an EBAs catered barbecue with hamburgers, hotdogs and veggie burgers. At the Bema, a mud pit for wrestling and volleyball net will be set up. Students will also have the opportunity to enjoy Allstar, the official house-band for the New York Rangers.
"We don't have an exact play list yet, but they are going to play a variety of everything, and they are supposed to be really good," Reeder said.
Acting Dean of the College Dan Nelson sent a campus-wide BlitzMail message to introduce the event last Tuesday. The BlitzMail message encouraged students to be excited about Fieldstock, but also stressed the importance of safety at the event.
Safety and Security will check College IDs at the Bema entrance, follow College alcohol policy -- Safety and Security officers will check bags for containers -- and enforce the new rules concerning crowd behavior at the chariot races, Reeder said.
"Alcohol-wise, I don't anticipate any more problems than usual," Fieldstock committee member Ashley Mas '08 said. "People just need to be smart about the decisions they make, and they shouldn't have a problem. Everyone knows that Fieldstock is going to be our big sophomore summer weekend, but that doesn't mean that the rules that usually apply on campus regarding illegal activities will no longer exist."
Reeder, along with about 15 other students, have worked hard to plan an event that will become a tradition, she said.
"We made an attempt to reach students and give them an event that they will like," Reeder said.
Many of the representatives have never been involved with Student Assembly or Class Council and added new perspectives to the event, Reeder said. She added that several members of Greek Houses made an effort to be involved.
Reeder said that one obstacle in planning the new event was the committee's short timeline.
"We only had this term to get things set in stone, so the planning was sort of rushed, but it won't be a problem in the future," she said.
