Many students expressed interest in the bonfire's construction and the prospect of running 116 laps around the fire, as Dartmouth tradition dictates.
"I don't think people really have an idea of what the bonfire is, so I'm excited for everyone to know what's coming and know what they'll be doing and get in on the tradition," bonfire committee co-chair Amanda Winch '16 said.
Sarah Young '16 expressed concern about completing the entirety of the 116 laps, while Tim Gorman '16 and Abby Markowitz '16 both members of the varsity cross country team said they are looking forward to it. Jack Kirby '16 visited for Homecoming last year but did not participate in running around the fire. This year, he definitely intends to run the laps, he said.
Freshman students said that the College's Homecoming weekend seems very different from high school fall celebrations.
Toni Aguiar '16 said that the bonfire represents a part of Homecoming weekend that is unique to Dartmouth and unlike anything that happens during high school.
The large scale and intensity of the College's Homecoming offers a welcome contrast to Markowitz's high school's more low-key celebrations, she said.
However, Homecoming weekend despite its numerous positive and exciting qualities has the potential to present a time management challenge for students balancing schoolwork and Homecoming activities, Kaitlin McCallum '16 said. Dividing time between studying for midterms in the days immediately before or after the weekend and having fun poses a major challenge, Markowitz said.
Dan Whitcomb '16 said he is worried that his friends will have "too much fun" over the course of Homecoming weekend and not effectively balance the weekend's festivities with other responsibilities.
Other students expressed little concern about balancing work and fun during Homecoming weekend.
"I'm excited to get drunk and dance," Gorman said.
Students are also looking forward to the chance to see visiting alumni who come to the College during Homecoming weekend.
Sarah Whittaker '16 said that she is most excited to see her sister, a member of the Class of 2012, when she visits.
Homecoming gives students an exciting chance to connect with alumni who continue to participate in College traditions, Ledah Geller '16 said. One of these exciting traditions is touching the fire, Trey Rebman '16 said. Rebman and Gorman said they are worried about getting injured while running around and attempting to touch the fire.
"I'm afraid of getting my skin burned by the bonfire, so I'm going to layer up," Gorman said.
Beyond touching the fire, Grant Mortell '16 said he and his friends plan to ride a moped through it.
While some students are familiar with the structure of Dartmouth's Homecoming, others are not. Many said they do not know what to expect or what actually happens during the weekend.
"You hear it's fun, but you don't know why it's fun," Joshua Winslow '16 said.
For Verhagen, the concept of a Homecoming celebration, let alone Dartmouth's Homecoming, is foreign because he is from South Africa.
"All I've heard of Homecoming is the Homecoming king and queen in a movie," Verhagen said. "Do we even have that here?"
Despite the confusion, many first-year students anticipate enjoying the weekend based on accounts of previous Homecomings passed down from upperclassmen.
"I'm expecting it to be epic," David Berg '16 said. "What's not to be excited for?"
The weekend's focus on first-year students from the procession to the Green before the bonfire to the ritual of running the laps helps form greater community, Winch said.
"It's like a form of attention, and you sort of feel special for a while," she said. "I think it's a fun initiation process where '16s are kind of the focus. It's exciting to be becoming part of the community."
