Lace up your Nikes, stretch those quads and get ready, because it's almost time for the bonfire bolt. That's right, after weeks of carbo-loading for the 116-lap marathon around the inferno, the freshman class is finally ready to hit the Green. Aside from "training" in anticipation of this epic weekend, freshman halls have planned bonding activities to pump up the Homecoming fun.
The fourth floor of the Fahey residence hall is a particularly close group. In the weeks leading up to the big weekend, its residents have gotten to know each other through "floor dates," according to Goutham Kandru '16.
"Our UGA sets up random pairings each week, and we go on mini dates," he said. "It's a great way to get to know each other."
Jalisa Clark '16, another fourth-floor Fahey resident, added that the floor enjoys gathering to play Apples to Apples and staying up for late night tete-a-tetes.
While some freshman floors have become tight-knit, others are less than enthusiastic about the first-year housing experience.
"Our floor bonding is a mandatory meeting," said a resident of the Choates, who wished to remain anonymous so as not to offend his floormates.
Try as some undergraduate advisors might to create a community, some freshmen simply are not interested in befriending their neighbors. However, these grinches haven't stopped first-floor Brown's UGA, Alex Kaye '15.
"A big part of our job is to create programming," Kaye, who helps organize First Nights, a series of Friday night activities for freshman clusters ranging from casino nights to pumpkin carving, said. In the same vein, Saturday Night Social, the brainchild of Ryan Smith '14, is a newly created social program that has attracted huge crowds among the freshman clusters. Programs like these, in addition to Homecoming highlights for freshmen including the spirit stations and the sweep, help foster a sense of community, according to Kaye.
"The spirit stations leading up to the sweep are great because this is one of the only times the whole cluster will be together," Kaye said.
He added that while he is excited to see the whole Choates residential cluster participate, he looks forward to spending time with his hall in particular.
"From what I can see, my floor is pretty well bonded," he said. "Not to say everyone's best friends, but people look out for each other and feel safe."
Kaye said he hopes his floor will become even closer over Homecoming.
Many upperclassmen fondly recall the transformative power of the weekend on their friendships.
"My hall was very close," Shweta Raghu '15 said. "We ran around the bonfire and went to the game together. I don't know that I did as many planned pre-Homecoming activities as I just enjoyed spending time with my friends during the weekend."
For floors that aren't as close, the festivities may help whip up some newfound dorm spirit and camaraderie. Mollie Gribbin '16, a resident of the fourth floor of Judge residence hall, said her floor has come together for the first time in preparing for the weekend.
"We haven't hung out much before this, but everyone's excited to spend the weekend together," Gribbin said. "Our floor is going all out with face paint, flair and temporary tattoos."
Jenny Begley '16, another fourth-floor Judge resident, said she is eagerly awaiting starting the sweep, because the River cluster is the origin of the moving crowd.
"We're usually isolated from everyone, so it's cool that we get to start the parade and lead the way," Begley said.
Despite their bonds with floormates, many freshmen plan on participating in the Homecoming festivities with their friends rather than their floors. However, for some, these groups are one and the same, and the bonfire is more like a "bond-fire."
"My friends are my floor," fourth-floor Fahey resident Nicole Collins '16 said. She said she plans to circle the bonfire with her Fahey friends, joining thousands of Dartmouth alumni in this beloved tradition.
