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The Dartmouth
June 28, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth
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Some schools throw their kegs

By Sarah Gerry | February 7, 1997

The College is far from alone in its celebration of the winter season. Many New England colleges have comparable holidays. While Psi Upsilon fraternity brothers at Dartmouth jump over rows of kegs in the annual Keg Jump, students at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, throw their kegs. Among the activities of the college's Winter Weekend is the annual "keg-throwing contest," said Chris Sullivan, the college's Student Association social chair. "It's like a shot-put kind of thing," Sullivan explained. Dartmouth's Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity holds a beach party every Carnival and blankets the house's floors in sand.

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Administrators do not stop for holiday

By Lillie Ng | February 7, 1997

The administration may not enjoy Carnival in the same manner as students, but they said the Dartmouth winter tradition plays an important role in College history and the lives of students. While students -- who get a day off from classes and wall-to-wall parties all weekend long -- may enjoy sleep-in time today, the College's offices will keep on going. President of the College James Freedman described the holiday as a "nice break" in Winter term and an "opportunity for good time and good cheer." This will be Freedman's tenth Carnival celebration. Dean of the College Lee Pelton said he thinks Carnival is an attempt to celebrate the College's heritage and connection with its natural setting in rural New Hampshire. "Someone once told me that Dartmouth had made a virtue out of winter," Pelton said.

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Carnival Council helps restore old traditions

By Beth Duncan | February 7, 1997

From building the "snowy knight" sculpture on the Green to planning the many activities this weekend offers, the Winter Carnival Council members have an extensive agenda, but they do not seem to mind. Amy Henry '97, co-chair of the council, said she enjoys having the opportunity to interact with many people to work on carnival traditions -- new and old. The council has been working since last spring to plan this year's activities and surpass the successes of past carnivals. The council's approximately 30 members meet regularly all term to make Winter Carnival a reality. The tasks of the council included selecting a theme -- which is "Twas a Cold and Stormy Knight: A Medieval Carnival" this year -- and choosing the poster, T-shirt and snow sculpture designs which encompass this theme. The group is also responsible for meeting with other organizations about planning their Carnival events. Henry said the excitement of Winter Carnival seems to have faded over the past few years and the council members hope to revive its spirit. This year's council aims to emphasize outdoor events in the carnival, she said.

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Women are the focus of 60 years of rich Carnival history

By Erin Loback | February 7, 1997

For over 60 years, the men of Dartmouth had one mission for Winter Carnival -- women. Carnival may have been started as a sporting and skiing day, but before coeducation, acquiring a date for the annual Carnival balls and dances was the primary concern for sheltered Dartmouth men. The Dartmouth, in 1968, referred to the Carnival as a weekend of "skiing and wenching." Carnival was a time for the male students to acquire dates for the weekend.

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Triumphant dragon reigned over opening ceremonies

By Joseph C. Scott | February 7, 1997

St. George had fallen and the dragon was perched atop his coffin, but the Winter Carnival opening ceremonies were still held last night on the Green. Winter Carnival Chair Amy Henry '97 welcomed the sizable crowd and gave an outline of what the Winter Carnival Council has planned for the weekend. Henry said the Council made a "special effort to revitalize Carnival's old traditions," as well as add some new activities. Dean of the College Lee Pelton spoke next on behalf of President James Freedman, who thanked all the people on the Council, especially those who faced adverse weather conditions while building the snow sculpture. Pelton told the crowd to have fun but to make it safe fun. He also had some words for the various sports teams competing this weekend: "Give 'em hell this weekend." Sculpture Chairs Chris Carbone '97 and Chris Aslin '97 followed Pelton and gave explanations for the state of the sculpture. Aslin announced that they had "made a few changes" in the sculpture that afternoon. Carbone explained that when the horse and knight portion of the sculpture became unstable, they "put it inside the coffin." The dragon was perched atop the coffin triumphantly, and the snowmen around it were there to mourn St.

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Men's hockey takes on Cornell, Colgate

By Ben Riefe | February 7, 1997

There's no place like home for the Big Green. After a tough four-game road trip which saw Dartmouth go 0-3-1, the Big Green (9-11-1 overall, 4-9-1 ECAC) return to Thompson Arena where they have earned three of their four ECAC wins. Dartmouth faces off against Cornell tonight and Colgate tomorrow night as the puck drops at 7:30 both nights.

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Students have extra party day

By David Horowitz | February 7, 1997

Although the Winter Carnival tradition began as a weekend for outdoor activities, today it has evolved into an extra day to party. Although many students said they plan to spend at least some time this weekend skiing or sledding, they do not consider winter sports to be the focus of the holiday. Kenneth Leon '98 said he plans to use the weekend as an opportunity to hit the skiways for the first time this winter. But he said the alcohol and party aspects of the weekend "overshadow the sporting aspect because that's what people talk about more." Charles Fiordalis '98 said the purpose of Winter Carnival revolves around alumni, not students.

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Lemley '99 wins poster contest

By Erika Patrick | February 7, 1997

A knight in a green cape, returning victorious from battle, stands before Dartmouth Row and raises a mug in celebration. The dragon he slew, with a sword still in its chest, lies behind him on a sled next to a shield emblazoned with the Dartmouth insignia. Alan Lemley '99 brought this scene of medievalbattle to life in his winning design for the Winter Carnival poster contest. The poster, which was Lemley's first experience with the pastel medium, is based on a scene from the popular Christmas book "The Polar Express." Chris Van Allsburg, the illustrator for "The Polar Express," won the 1986 Caldecott Medal for best illustrations. Lemley -- who has no art background and said he only draws "once in a blue moon" -- will receive a $100 award for his design. Winter Carnival Council Chair Amy Henry '97 said her group looks for drawings that express the selected theme of Winter Carnival for each year.

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Sculptures abound on fraternity and residence hall lawns

By Jake Elberg | February 7, 1997

While renewing a tradition that began in 1927, some fraternity brothers have transformed their houses' front lawns into medieval worlds of snow. Sigma Nu and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities are among this year's entries in the Winter Carnival mini-sculpture contest, which is open to all students. The Winter Carnival Council has not held the sculpture contest in recent years due to lack of student interest. Now that it has been rejuvenated, organizer Kim Papa '97 hopes it will be back for good. "Our hope is that it will become an annual contest," Papa said.

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From keg-jumping to parties: Dartmouth plays hard

By Robert Isaacs | February 7, 1997

Among snow sculptures and winter sporting events, general merriment is an enduring Winter Carnival tradition. Known to many as the mid-winter party weekend, the celebration has grown in size and importance since its founding in 1910 by Fred Harris '11.

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