Greek affiliation makes little difference in students' experiences over Homecoming weekend, as the celebration is largely dedicated to welcoming the new crop of first-year students to campus, according to students. Homecoming centers on what it means to be a part of the College community as a whole, rather than on being a member of a particular house.
The weekend's main event is Friday night's bonfire, during which freshmen circle the fire to the tune of shouts from upperclassmen. The bonfire symbolizes the unity of the Dartmouth community, according to Sahil Joshi '13, an unaffiliated student.
"There's definitely an intent with Homecoming, because it's very much about welcoming freshmen in," Joshi said.
Both new and returning students play a part in the event, according to Joseph Styer '14, an unaffiliated student. Styer said that Greek affiliation is not a significant factor in the tradition.
"It doesn't matter if you're in a frat, it doesn't matter if you're not," he said. "It makes negligible to little difference in your experience of the bonfire."
In some ways, heckling from upperclassmen during the bonfire can strengthen the bonds of the freshman class, Styer said. The event creates a "fake separation" from other classes that may help the new freshmen discover a sense of identity, he said. Some students have also recently pushed for more positive ways of welcoming new classes, which is a trend Styer said he hopes will continue this year.
The bonfire also serves to induct new students into the College community, Delta Delta Delta sorority member Mary Hassell '13 said.
While Greek houses host most of the parties and events during Homecoming weekend, many students agreed that Homecoming places a greater emphasis on what it means to be a student at the College and not necessarily a member of a Greek house. Since many alumni return to campus on this specific weekend, there is a greater emphasis on "Dartmouth-izing" everything, Hassell said.
Some alumni who visit Dartmouth during Homecoming spend a significant amount of time at the Greek house where they were affiliated, while others spend their weekend at a variety of places on campus, according to Alpha Delta member Timothy Kearl '13.
"If you go into a frat on a big weekend, they're usually full of alums," Kearl said. "But the people who come back are all over the board and don't necessarily gravitate to wherever they were affiliated."
Homecoming weekend is a chance for students to branch out socially and take part in events that they would not normally attend, Styer said. Because there are so many students frequenting the parties during Homecoming, it is easier to walk into a party and feel comfortable as a part of the crowd, he said.
Students affiliated with Greek houses often spend significant amounts of time at Homecoming events with other members of their houses, according to Sigma Delta member Katherine Burns '13. She said that the football game is one event she likely would not have attended in the past if her house had not gone as a group.
Some affiliated students spend much of their Homecoming weekend at their Greek houses because they are involved in organizing or monitoring events hosted by the organization, according to Psi Upsilon president Christian Sherrill '13.
"Everybody is responsible for making sure [the weekend] runs smoothly," Sherrill said. "I think the pledges bond together more so on big weekends than any other time during the fall."
Psi U plans to continue its tradition of hosting "Grill-a-thon," a Homecoming weekend event during which members grill food in front of the house for both affiliated and unaffiliated students who pass by, Sherrill said. The "Grill-a-thon" is a good opportunity for Psi U to give back to the Dartmouth community and bring its members closer together, he said.
Kearl said that various responsibilities may require students to dedicate significant time to their houses during Homecoming weekend. During his sophomore fall, Kearl spent most of Homecoming weekend in AD because new members are responsible for many of the "chore kind of things," such as tending the bar, he said.
Regardless of the activities that students participate in during Homecoming weekend, it is a chance for everyone to escape from both extracurricular activities and the College's fast-paced academic environment to spend time with visiting alumni, Joshi said.
"At the end of the day, especially because of the alumni who come back, [Homecoming is] about spending time with the people that you care about in this bubble," he said.