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The Dartmouth
July 26, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Class of 2013 anticipates Homecoming bonfire, parties

Chloe Gettinger '13, Whitney Bren '13 and Sophie Palitz '13 walk along the Green in their class shirts.
Chloe Gettinger '13, Whitney Bren '13 and Sophie Palitz '13 walk along the Green in their class shirts.

As Homecoming weekend arrives, anticipation and excitement among members of the Class of 2013 has peaked. Many freshmen have heard countless stories from upperclassmen and now await Friday night to evaluate whether their first big weekend as Dartmouth students lives up to their expectations.

Freshmen will begin the weekend by participating in the Freshman Sweep. The Sweep culminates on the Green where freshmen are expected to run around the bonfire.

While some members of the Class of 2013 are looking forward to running the full 113 laps around the fire, others said that they do not anticipate accomplishing the entire task.

"I'm doing 13," Sandra Gonzalez-Sanchez '13 said, adding that there is "no way" she has enough endurance to run around the fire over 100 times.

Many freshmen also cite the traditions of "touching the fire" and rushing the field during the Homecoming game as common events in the stories they have been told by their elder peers.

"I hear the upperclassmen try to make us touch the fire, which I think is funny, but no, that is not on my to-do list this year," Erica Cheung '13 said.

She affirmed, though, that she is excited for the freshman sweep.

"Everything running, the giant bonfire, bonding with your floor, the other '13s, just being in the moment I hear it's so incredible, it's indescribable," she said.

Gonzalez-Sanchez said that peer pressure will likely be a large factor in her decision whether or not to touch the fire and rush the field.

"I heard the upperclassmen will dare you to touch the fire and that students either do it and nothing happens or end up at the hospital," Gonzalez-Sanchez said.

Upperclassmen traditionally surround freshmen as they run their laps around the bonfire, cheering and teasing the runners.

Maan Tinna '13 said that one upperclassman warned him not to cry when they shout "worst class ever" at him and his fellow freshmen.

Many students interviewed by The Dartmouth mentioned concerns about balancing their workloads with what one '13 male, who wished to remain anonymous since he is not of legal drinking-age, described as "five nights in a row of partying."

"Other '13's are already worried about managing their work that weekend and are planning, probably to no avail, to get their work done before Thursday," Tinna said.

Tyrone DeSpenza '13 said Homecoming will be a good way to relax after a work-intensive week.

"I have all my midterms this week," he said. "So I'm going to study hard for them during the week, but I'll definitely make up for all the lost partying over Homecoming weekend."

Despite concerns about keeping up with schoolwork, many freshmen said they are excited about the opportunity to spend time with fellow classmates.

"I'm most excited about the Class of 2013 getting together," Tinna said. "I am one of the Spirit Coordinators for Russell Sage cluster and the reason I signed up is because I love seeing the entire class together in so much excitement."

Members of the Class of 2013 are also excited to see alumni return to campus to help celebrate the weekend.

"I love that all the alumni, family and community members come out to welcome the '13s," Cheung said. "There will be an even stronger sense of spirit and camaraderie, because we all love Dartmouth."

Elise Quinones and Christina Wray contributed to the reporting of this article.