Even as the flames of the Homecoming bonfire die out and the shouts of "touch the fire" fade away, the parties on Dartmouth campus have just begun.
Historically, Homecoming has been marked not just by school spirit and time-honored traditions, but also by fraternity theme parties attended by hundreds of students.
According to Justin Zalkin '07, the social chair of Sigma Nu fraternity, the house will be hosting their '80s themed party tonight, which always promises to be a good time for students.
"We just have really good music and it's sort of like a campus tradition," Zalkin said. "It's just been going on for so long, and it's so much fun. I think even before I joined [the fraternity] I went to early '80s."
The early '80s party, which has allegedly been around since the late '80s, offers a chance for students to don spandex and leg warmers in preparation for dancing to classic hits from the decade.
Zalkin added that the '80s party generally has one of the best turnouts of all the fraternity events of homecoming weekend.
He said that while the fraternity plans to advertise the week before the big weekend for their party, people have already started to talk about early '80s as a homecoming tradition.
"I think word gets around," Zalkin said. "I've heard from [freshmen] already about the '80s party. We don't really worry about having a full house. We just have a good time when everyone has a good time."
Everyone having a good time is certainly as much a tradition of homecoming as any themed party.
Benjamin Robbins '08, social chair of the Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity, noted that during homecoming every party is filled with students.
He added that the fraternities are not really competing when it comes to student turn out, because so many people are out looking for a good time on homecoming weekend.
"The more parties, the better," Robbins said.
Tri-Kap will be hosting a party on the Friday of homecoming which Robbins said will have an in-house DJ and great music.
Although most students in the class of 2010 might not yet know the specifics of the homecoming parties, excitement and anticipation seem to be building as the weekend draws near.
Matt Applegate '10 said that he isn't yet aware of any specific parties going on but added that he is excited for the general revelry of the tradition.
"I don't really know much about homecoming in general but I know that its just one big party weekend," Applegate said.
Applegate, who sings in the a capella group the Cords, said that despite an a cappella show on Saturday evening, he plans on attending the events that homecoming weekend is famous for--namely the early '80s party and the Tabard's disco night.
"I am definitely planning on going out," he said.
In addition to the early '80s party Friday night and Tabard disco Saturday night, Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity will host their invite-only champagne mixer on Thursday, and both Alpha Delta and Gamma Delta Chi will host parties with bands on Saturday.
