Correction Appended
Ongoing construction on Phi Delta Alpha fraternity and the recent reopening of Zeta Psi fraternity mark important changes that students may note as they carouse along Webster Avenue this Green Key weekend.
Despite significant damages sustained by Phi Delt's physical plant in a Jan. 10 fire, the fraternity plans to host its traditional Green Key Block Party on Friday, Phi Delt president Victor Galson '11 said.
Hanover Police and Safety and Security will shut down Webster Avenue during Block Party, which is taking place on Phi Delt's front lawn on Friday afternoon, Galson said.
Other fraternities and sororities on Webster Avenue are also hosting individual events, such as barbecues, essentially turning the festivities into an "all-campus event," Galson said.
The Block Party will feature reggae singer Garrison Hawk, who will open for the headlining band Loud Apt., according to Lane Zimmerman '11, Phi Delt brotherhood chair and house manager.
Zimmerman, who suggested the band for Block Party, described Loud Apt. as a "little bit of funk, [and a] little bit of rock."
"[Loud Apt. and Hawk] are two different, unique sounds but they will be good for an outdoor spring event," Zimmerman said.
While certain setbacks such as the absence of funds usually collected through house dues each term were "inevitable" following the fire at Phi Delt, Galson said that these issues will not affect the quality or size of Block Party.
"Since we are not collecting rent this term, since no one is living in the house, our budget is a bit tighter," Galson said. "We weren't able to get as big a name of a band, but [Loud Apt.] is definitely up-and-coming."
Loud Apt. which was chosen for its less expensive rates in light of Phi Delt's budget constraints will make its performance more audience-oriented than bands from previous years, according to Zimmerman.
Last year's Block Party featured New York-based blues-rock quintet Assembly of Dust, led by former Strangefolk frontman Reid Genauer, The Dartmouth previously reported.
"In past years, we had high-profile, more national' bands play two short sets," Zimmerman said. "Loud Apt. is really psyched to play at Dartmouth and wants to have a really good performance."
While the upper stories of the house are uninhabitable and closed to the public due to current reconstruction efforts, the basement has been open since the beginning of the term, Galson said. Students will be allowed in the basement but not upstairs during Green Key due to safety concerns, but the festivities outside will be unaffected, according to Galson.
"It shouldn't be too different [from previous Block Parties]," he said. "The main point is the music there will still be a band on the front porch and a big crowd on the front lawn."
The Phi Delt basement will be open for a post-concert event, but Loud Apt. and Garrison Hawk will not stay at Phi Delt to meet the fraternity members following the concert as previous bands have because the rest of the house is closed, Zimmerman said.
This Green Key also marks an important change for Zete, as it is the first big weekend in which the fraternity is allowed to host an event with alcohol. The fraternity will not have any open parties during Green Key, however, according to Zete social chair Fan Zhang '11. Zhang is a member of The Dartmouth Staff.
Members of Zete plan to enjoy events hosted by other fraternities as Zete undergoes the re-recognition process, president Karl Grunseich '10 said in an interview with The Dartmouth.
"We are just getting into the swing of things, and at the same time protecting our own management procedures," Grunseich said. "I'm not too sure that we will have any big events this term due to our status with the College."
At the beginning of Spring term, Grunseich and vice president Matt Michels '12 and Zhang developed a timeline for gradually reintegrating alcohol into Zete's social events, Grunseich said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth. The fraternity leaders drafted the plan with Martin Redman, dean of Residential Life, and Deb Carney, director of Greek Letter Organizations and Societies, and assistant dean of Residential Life.
During the meetings, Redman and Carney noted that the fraternity did not plan to have an open event during Spring term, but said they most likely would not have approved one, Grunseich said in the interview.
Instead of "big, open events," Zete will spend Spring term managing smaller, closed events in preparation for a larger event in the Fall, Grunseich said.
"We have been discussing having a brothers event over Green Key, but other than that, there are so many events scheduled for that weekend that other houses already have," Grunseich said.
