Students who have enrolled in the Mean Green program sign in when they arrive at designated Dartmouth sporting events, and can receive rewards for attending a certain number of games in a term. "Mean Greeners" get a winter hat after six games, a travel mug after ten and a hoodie after 16 games. The top 20 members -- those who attend the most games -- each receive two tickets to a Boston Red Sox home game.
During the Fall term, PE credit was also granted to members who attended at least eight events, although that option was not offered this winter.
The program makes it easy for students to earn rewards, as students can gain credit for attending a wide selection of games. Basketball and hockey are the main options this term, while football and some nationally-televised soccer games were available for Mean Green credit during the Fall. In total, over 20 games were offered as opportunities for Mean Green credit during the Fall.
The only responsibility asked of the students is to sign in with Stewart Gray '11 and Noelle Eichenold '09 when they arrive to the games -- and then, of course, to cheer on the Big Green.
"It's to get people to come out to the games, to encourage them," Gray said.
Over 700 students signed up this academic year, according to Gray. Out of that membership, approximately 250 joined for PE credit this past Fall term, which gave Mean Green the largest roster of any PE class at Dartmouth at that time.
Approximately half of the students who registered for Mean Green as a PE course went to the requisite eight games needed to receive credit.
Although it boasts impressive membership numbers, Mean Green is still a relatively new program at Dartmouth. The program is the brainchild of Associate Athletic Director of Marketing and Promotions Sam Hopkins, who conceived the idea last year as a way of getting more students involved in Big Green athletics.
It was up to Josh Drake '08 to steer the program through its opening stretch last year, Gray said. Drake, still a diehard fan of the Big Green, is now the owner of On the Hill Apparel, but is possibly better known for his presence at all of the hockey games in wild Dartmouth attire.
For about a week of Fall term, confusion about what level of participation was required to get PE credit was widespread. Initially, members were informed that they could fulfill the credit requirements over both the Fall and Winter terms combined. Ultimately, though, the attendance requirement was set at eight games during the Fall term.
There is no PE credit offered this term, but all 710 Mean Green members can still come to games and work towards earning the ensuing rewards.
Gray said that the confusion stemmed from a simple miscommunication with the physical education department.
"Fall term was hectic but successful," he said.
Among all of the ways to earn physical education credit at Dartmouth, Mean Green was one of just a handful of programs that offered PE credit without physical activity.
While many students are on varsity or club sports teams or partake in classic FLIP classes to earn their PE credits, alternatives rangee from skiing to Dartmouth Emergency Medical Services to the Dartmouth College Marching Band.
Such varied classes are justified, Gray said.
"Physical education does not necessarily mean physical activity," he said.
For passionate fans of Big Green sports, the prizes offered by the Mean Green program add to the many reasons to attend Dartmouth sporting events. Melissa Bearden '12, who attended enough games to earn PE credit last term, said that she loves the program because she already goes to all the games with her friends.
"I have a hat and a mug, and I can't wait to get the hoodie," she said.
Bearden said she hopes that she and her friends end up in the group of Mean Greeners who win Red Sox tickets.
Nationwide, similar programs work to entice fans at other colleges such as Syracuse University, the University of Memphis and many public state schools.
The programs, however, do not all operate in the same way.
Memphis, for example, charges students to join its program, while Dartmouth's program is free.
Although Mean Green is not the only program of its kind, Gray said that the significant perks and lack of sign-up costs make it distinct.
"A lot of schools have similar programs," he said. "The rewards system makes Mean Green different."
