The Carni Classic, human dog sled race and campus snow sculpture contest have been removed from the 2012 Winter Carnival schedule due to icy conditions and a lack of snow. As a result of the unseasonably warm weather, this year's cross-country ski races have been moved to Stowe, Vt.
Representatives from Programming Board, the Collis Center, the Office of Alumni Relations, the Office of Residential Life, Safety and Security and the Office of Facilities, Operations and Management helped make the decision to cancel the events in a Wednesday meeting.
Students interviewed by The Dartmouth said they are disappointed that some traditional events have been canceled but still expect to enjoy the weekend.
"I'm from California," Yobiel Kelati '15, a member of Winter Carnival Council, said. "This is my first experience with snow, and it all kind of went away."
The Winter Carnival Council has been reviewing suggestions for replacement events, he said.
Melissa Gordon '13, who had planned to participate in the human dog sled race, said she will consider participating in alternative events if they reflect the spirit of those they intend to replace.
"If there was something comparable to get people out on the Green in flair with the same energy and elements like that, I would still go," she said.
As of press time, no new events or activities have been scheduled for the weekend, Winter Carnival Council co-chair Mandy Bowers '14 said.
Although he does not typically attend Winter Carnival events, Sean Derrow '13 said he wished there was more snow.
"It's supposed to be a fun snow time," he said. "Last year there was a ton of snow and it was really awesome half of Winter Carnival is the fact that people go to the [Dartmouth] Skiway and that there's this whole snow sculpture."
A group of students decided to host their own Carni Classic at the golf course at 4 p.m. on Thursday in spite of the Winter Carnival Council's decision to cancel the event.
"It unofficially happened," Leif Johnson '13 said in an email to The Dartmouth. "It was basically a few people goofing around on the golf course."
Organizers expect the Polar Bear Swim, scheduled to take place at Occom Pond on Friday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., will continue as planned as long as temperatures Thursday night are not too high.
A final decision on the Polar Bear Swim will be made Friday morning, but it "should still be happening," Bowers said.
FO&M will review the condition of the pond on Friday morning to determine if the event can take place. It will judge how much weight the ice can support and whether it is completely solid, according to Eric Ramsey, director of the Collis Center for Student Involvement and advisor to the Winter Carnival Council.
Similar weather conditions interrupted a number of Winter Carnival events, including the Polar Bear Swim, in 2005.
In 2009, Winter Carnival coincided with the 100th anniversary of the Dartmouth Outing Club.
Members of the DOC had planned an ice luge behind the BEMA and students would have been able to raft down a long, winding groove in the snow. The event was canceled because of unseasonably warm weather. The Polar Bear Swim and human dog sled race were able to proceed as planned.
Kelsey Anspach and Marina Shkuratov contributed reporting to this article.
