Dartmouth College Custom
The Ledyard Challenge
Samantha Norton
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
May 20th, 2019
Informant Data:
Samantha Norton, commonly called “Sam” by her friends, is an undergraduate student at Dartmouth College. She is currently a junior and actively participate in the Alpha Phi sorority. In her free time, she is the director of Camp Kesem – Dartmouth and is a crew captain of Love Your Melon.
Social Context:
Dartmouth College is an Ivy League research university located in Hanover, New Hampshire. Founded in 1769, it was an all-male school until 1972 when it admitted women for the first time. Today, the entire university, undergraduate and graduate alike, is viewed as one of the most prestigious institutions in the world and consistently ranks in the top 20 colleges in the United States. Both the administration and student-body places heavy emphasis on tradition – many of the ritualistic ceremonies that were performed during the founding years of Dartmouth continue today. Furthermore, many of these traditions are tied to a specific location on campus and are carried out at that location year after year. The Ledyard Challenge has elements of customary and verbal folklore. It is customary because the actual act of carrying out the challenge is done by the people who know about it. However, only those who know about the challenge do it; usually, people find out about the Ledyard Challenge through word of mouth. According to Sam, “I never even knew about the Ledyard Challenge until sophomore summer when some friends and I did it. A lot of my friends were surprised that I had never heard of it, though.” The actual Ledyard Challenge entails “taking off your cloths on the river docks, swimming across naked, then streaking back across the Ledyard Bridge without getting caught by S&S or the police.”
Cultural Context:
The Ledyard Challenge unveils a lot about Dartmouth College’s longstanding traditions. According to Sam, “as far as I know, nobody knows when the Ledyard Challenge started, but it is something that almost every student does before graduating.” This suggests that even unsponsored traditions at Dartmouth thrive because of the support they receive from the student body.
Collectors Comments:
At my time at Dartmouth, I have heard of people wanting to streak exams. In fact, there is a streaking GroupMe chat that one can be a part of if he/she wants to streak regularly. Streaking on campus can be viewed as one of Dartmouth’s Rites of Passage. So many people streak on such a regular basis, that it becomes something that students feel like they need to do in order to be a full-fledged Dartmouth undergraduate
Dartmouth College Custom
The Dartmouth 7
Madison/Madi
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
May 17th, 2019
Informant Data:
Madison (she has asked that her last name not be used) is a current freshman at Dartmouth College. On campus, she plays softball and does not yet know where she wants to rush. Her friend usually know her as Madi and she is from Marin County, CA.
Social Context:
Dartmouth College is an Ivy League research university located in Hanover, New Hampshire. Founded in 1769, it was an all-male school until 1972 when it admitted women for the first time. Today, the entire university, undergraduate and graduate alike, is viewed as one of the most prestigious institutions in the world and consistently ranks in the top 20 colleges in the United States. Both the administration and student-body places heavy emphasis on tradition – many of the ritualistic ceremonies that were performed during the founding years of Dartmouth continue today. Furthermore, many of these traditions are tied to a specific location on campus and are carried out at that location year after year. The Dartmouth 7 is a challenge that takes place over the 4 years that a student is an undergraduate at Dartmouth. Essentially, the goal is to fornicate with someone, though not necessarily the same person, in 7 distinct places: the president’s lawn, the green, top of the HOP, the stairs of Dartmouth Hall, the 50-yard line on the football field, the stacks, and the BEMA. The Dartmouth 7 carries weight in the social life of Dartmouth students and Madi specifically says that “people definitely make it feel like it is something that everyone needs to accomplish before he/she leaves.”
“Dartmouth Hall is one of the more difficult of the Dartmouth 7 because they keep lights on it at night.” -Madi | Photo via Ethan Moon
Cultural Context:
The fact that The Dartmouth 7 remains such a prominent part of campus “hook-up culture” implies a lot about what the student body finds important in its social life. Some people find it fun, but other certainly find it inappropriate.
Collectors Comments:
“Hook-up culture” has recently been becoming a more prominent aspect of American campus culture. If the Dartmouth 7 is really as old as my informant makes it out to be, then Dartmouth really might have been ahead of its time in terms of this “trend.” This tradition is likely a form of spatial folklore in that students, by having sex on these various places, feel like they are in control of the environment around. This might be especially important given that sometimes students may feel as if the machine that is higher education takes control of all aspects of their lives.
Dartmouth College Custom
Freshman Year Snowball Fight
Hugh McKenzie
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
May 17th, 2019
Informant Data:
Hugh McKenzie is a current freshman at Dartmouth College. He is on the varsity swim team and swims breaststroke. He is from Brookline, MA, and attended Brookline High School. On campus, he enjoys participating in the Political Violence Lab and is a member of the Great Issues Scholars.
Social Context:
Dartmouth College is an Ivy League research university located in Hanover, New Hampshire. Founded in 1769, it was an all-male school until 1972 when it admitted women for the first time. Today, the entire university, undergraduate and graduate alike, is viewed as one of the most prestigious institutions in the world and consistently ranks in the top 20 colleges in the United States. Both the administration and student-body places heavy emphasis on tradition – many of the ritualistic ceremonies that were performed during the founding years of Dartmouth continue today. Furthermore, many of these traditions are tied to a specific location on campus and are carried out at that location year after year. The Freshman Year Snowball Fight ties together several elements of Dartmouth heritage and can best be described as a poly-modal form of folklore. It is textual because Freshman receive an email about it, but it also spreads through rumor because “people always know that the snowball fight happens after the first big snow.” Furthermore, this piece also falls into the customary genre since actually carrying out the fight is an important part of the folklore.
Cultural Context:
My informant described the Freshman Snowball Fight as “a super wholesome experience for us [the Freshman].” He believes that while other traditions such as the BEMA (Big Empty Meeting Area) Candlelight Ceremony can feel “a little bit awkward and cult-like,” the Snowball Fight “is just a great way for everyone to just have a childish moment during the chaos of figuring out college.” The email that freshmen receive comes from ‘Dr. Seuss’ and is in the form of a typical Dr. Seuss style poem. My informant still has the email and has provided me with the text:
The first snow of fall term, 2018 | Photo via Ethan Moon
Text:
“Snow! There’s snow! There’s lots of snow!
Lots and lots of snow to throw!
You can throw it if you’re cold,
You can throw it if you’re old,
You can throw it if you’re young
You can throw it with your tongue!
You can throw it on The Green,
You can throw it at your dean!
If in the BEMA you get lost,
Throw your snow at Robert Frost!
At midnight (11/16/18) there will be a fight!
A snowball fight this very night!
Come jump and shout and sing and dance!
Come put snow down someone’s pants!
Come join before spring alights,
In one final snowball fight.
Come and throw some snow with me,
You will like it, you will see!
-Dr. Seuss”
Collectors Comments:
I myself participated in the Freshman Year Snowball Fight. Getting the email was super exciting because people were talking about it happening all day since the snow was coming down. This piece of folklore is definitely a good example of Rites of Initiation. Freshmen are in the liminal stage of their Dartmouth career, still trying to figure out college, and the snowball fight is an attempt to incorporate (liminal stage) them into the student body.
Ethan Moon, 19
5015 Oakhurst Walk
Dunwoody, GA 30338
Dartmouth College
Russian 13
Spring 2019
Landmark and Material Folklore
Moosilauke Lodge Freshmen Trips
Annika Kouhia
Moosilauke Lodge, Dartmouth College
5/19/2019
Informant Data:
Annika Kouhia was born on January 20th, 1998 in Seattle, WA. She came to Dartmouth in the fall of 2016 and is currently a junior. Annika is involved in Kappa and has helped out during freshmen orientation at the school.
Cultural Context:
The tradition of “Freshman Trips” was born in 1935 to build awareness for the Dartmouth Outing Club and to give students a positive experience to start Dartmouth. The Salty Dog Rag is supposed to welcome in uncomfortable students and create a supportive and lively culture at Dartmouth College.
Social Context:
After spending 4 days in the wilderness participating in different trips, all of the freshmen reconvene at Moosilauke Lodge. Here, it’s the first chance they really get to interact a significant proportion of their class. Besides hanging out and playing sports/cards, they all are led through a number of dances and chants. One of these dances is the Salty Dog Rag, which brings everyone together and generates enthusiasm amongst the group.
Text:
The Salty Dog rag is a partner dance that involves many steps, swings, and hops. Attached is a video showing the dance, though the video shows the dance being performed at Dartmouth College rather than at the lodge.
Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCrIKSIvTKI
Collectors Comments:
Moosilauke lodge is a very cool place for this tradition to take place. The lodge is isolated in the Mountains/forests of New Hampshire, and this isolation makes it a good place for freshmen to really get to know fellow classmates. I remember a large amount of energy and enthusiasm at the lodge during my freshman year.
David Horneffer, 20
17755 Parish Dr, Brookfield, WI
Dartmouth College
Russ 13
Spring, 2019
Landmark and Material Folklore
Tennis Team Bequest Day
Casey Ross
Boss Tennis Center, Dartmouth College
5/19/2019
Informant Data:
Casey Ross was born on June 3rd, 1998, in Denver Colorado. He is currently a Sophomore at Dartmouth College and is set to graduate in 2021. Casey is a member of the Varsity Men’s Tennis team.
Cultural Context:
While Casey was unsure on the origins of bequest day, the Dartmouth tennis team has bequests that date back to the 1980’s and earlier. The bequests range from colorful and funny shirts to very meaningful personal items. Bequests serve as a way for seniors to pass along memories and traditions and keep them within the team.
Social Context:
The bequest practice happens in the fall of each year. Each team member wears an outfit that consists entirely of clothes from bequests, and practices in them for a short time. According to Casey, this tradition helps the team remember the significance of Dartmouth tennis. For the freshmen, it introduces them to the long lineage of tennis players that have practiced in the tennis center before them.
Text:
Tennis bequests consist of old uniforms, colorful robes, wacky shirts, and meaningful room decorations.
Media:
David Horneffer, 20
17755 Parish Dr, Brookfield, WI
Dartmouth College
Russ 13
Spring, 2019
Landmark and Verbal Folklore
BEMA (Big Empty Meeting Area) Freshman Initiation
Casey Ross
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
5/19/2019
Informant Data:
Casey Ross was born on June 3rd, 1998, in Denver Colorado. He is currently a Sophomore at Dartmouth College and is set to graduate in 2021. Casey is a member of the Varsity Men’s Tennis team.
Social Context:
This event is the ending ceremony to freshman orientation at Dartmouth. Dartmouth Everyone is gathered from their dorms once it gets dark and brought to BEMA (short for Big Empty Meeting Area). Everyone lights a candle together, and joins in singing the school song. It is one of the first times in which the entire class is assembled, and it is the first time that the class joins together in singing the “alma mater”.
Cultural Context:
Casey was unsure when this tradition began. Dartmouth has a tight knit community, and many are honored to be a part of it. With this in mind, the act of gathering in the dark and lighting a candle serves to welcome everyone into this community.
Text:
Everyone lights a candle and participates in singing the Dartmouth alma mater.
Collectors comments:
I think that the landmark where this ritual is held is very important. The “Big Empty Meeting Area” is a medium-sized field in the middle of forest, and when the whole class assembles there, they are essentially surrounded by trees. This is important because it helps bring a sense of togetherness.
David Horneffer, 20
17755 Parish Dr, Brookfield, WI
Dartmouth College
Russ 13
Spring, 2019
Landmark and verbal folklore
Golf team ceremony around Occum Pond
John Lazor
Beta Alpha Omega
May 21, 2019
Informant Data:
John Lazor is a graduating senior from Dartmouth College. He is a member of the class of 2019, a four year varsity golfer, and a member of Beta Alpha Omega. He was born and raised in Dedham Massachusetts. His parents are both doctors and he has two siblings. His sister plays squash at Yale.
Social Context:
I text John and asked to interview him. I walked and met him in his room at his fraternity, Beta. John learned about the golf team ritual as a freshman. He was on the bus ride back from the Ivy League Championship and the coach said we needed to pick up the seniors that didn’t travel. When the folklore is performed the only people present are members of the golf team and the coach. Being present for the bus rides around Occum pond is the members participation. This is performed every year after the last tournament of the season.
Cultural Context:
Most college athletes grow up and spend a lot of time during their childhood playing their sport. Once they are in college they make many sacrifices to be able to represent their school and compete at the highest level. After the last tournament game for the seniors most of them are done with their competitive careers and they are moving onto another stage in their life. This is a way to honor and thank them since they will be missed by their teammates and coaches.
Item:
Interviewer: “Can you first describe what it is that we do?”
JL: “Yeah so our golf team tradition that is done every year after the Ivy League Championship is the tradition of driving the seniors around Occum Pond as their, I guess, farewell to the Dartmouth golf team. It typically twice because there are usually two members per class on the team. Um, and as we drive around the pond, Coach plays the song Hail to the Chief, one time for each graduating senior.”
Interviewer: “Do you know how it started?”
JL: “I believe it started with our coach wanting to give our seniors a send of as an appreciation for playing on the team for four years and giving their all throughout their time at Dartmouth. It can be an emotional moment so that just makes it a little more important and it shows recognition to the seniors.”
Interviewer: “Do you know why the team drives around Occum Pond?”
JL: “Occum Pond is located right next to the golf course. And you can’t drive around the golf course so we decided to drive around Occum Pond and drive by the golf course when we do the laps.”
Interviewer: “Do you know why they chose the song Hail to the Chiefs.”
JL: “I think it is more of, you know the name Hail to the Chief. We are hailing the two graduating seniors and it is again, we are recognizing and saying thank you for your commitment and play on the golf team.”
Interviewer: “How did you find out about it?”
JL: “I found out about it my freshman year on my way home from the Ivy League Championship. We did not win so our season had concluded so Coach told us we had to drive around the pond two time to recognize the seniors. So that night at 2 am we drove around the pond and played hail to the chief twice.”
Interviewer. “What is it about the lore that is pleasing? What makes it artistic, powerful, or persuasive?”
JL: “I think it is pleasing for the whole team. It is recognizing seniors as I have said a bunch of times. But it just shows the rest of the team that they will be honored one day and they know, no matter what they do, this tradition will be applied to them. It can be artistic in a way that it brings emotions out of everybody, Sometimes you see tears and sometimes you see people really crying or our coach crying and so I think that’s the most artistic element that it brings. Also I guess playing the music, music is a form of art so that also adds.”
Interviewer: “You were already kind of touching on this but what needs does it meet in their lives.”
JL: “It just emphasizes that they have played a big role on a division one golf team and it is just saying thank you to the seniors. And it means a lot to the seniors just because it is the entire team honoring them for what they have done in their entire career.”
Interviewer: “Okay last question. What does the lore tell us about the values and attitudes of the group and our team.”
JL: “It just shows that the two seniors have worked hard, they have great attitudes and they have given up alot to play on a division one golf team for four years. It is tough sometimes, being a division one athlete with the demand from work, it just congratulates them and praises them for everything they have brought to this part of their time at Dartmouth.”
Collectors Comments:
This is clearly a ritual around the rights of separation. The seniors are ending one part of their life and leaving a group of people they have spent a lot of time with so this gives rise to the need for the ritual and folklore.
James Turner, 21
25 Grapevine Rd, Gloucester, MA
7 W Wheelock St, Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College
Russian 13
Spring 2019
Landmark and verbal folklore
Homecoming bonfire on the Green
Sydney Towle
Baker-Berry Library at Dartmouth College
May 21, 2019
Informant Data:
Sydney Towle is a freshman student at Dartmouth College. As a freshman, she has gained exposure to many of Dartmouth’s traditions and can remember her first interactions with each tradition very clearly. Sydney is involved with sustainability on campus through several organizations. She was raised in South Florida, along with her older brother, by her mother and her step-father.
Social Context:
The data was collected in Baker-Berry Library on May 21st, 2019. The informant was asked to be interviewed regarding campus folklore and answered a series of questions pertaining to the topic. Sydney learned of the Homecoming bonfire during first-year Trips, when her trip-leaders discussed the variety of traditions on campus. There was a variety of people present during the folklore’s performance, given its vast history and extent. These included a majority of freshmen, as well as upperclassmen and alumni who come back to campus to participate in the event. These groups participated either by walking around the fire, if they were freshmen, or by cheering on, if upperclassmen and/or alumni.
Cultural Context:
Having good relationships with your fellow students is an essential component of any college experience. The homecoming bonfire is one of many traditions to establish a sense of community on campus and promote good relationships. Dartmouth is known for being a small, tight-knit college, and the traditions invoked on campus help to emphasize this feeling of community. The bonfire assists with this by gathering students, both current and alumni, together in a small space that welcomes celebration.
Item:
The folklore was collected through an interview and audio recorded. The transcript is below exactly as it was recorded.
Interviewer: “Do you want to describe what the tradition is on the green during homecoming?”
ST: “The homecoming bonfire is a tradition where there’s a huge bonfire on the green and the classes run around the number of laps for the year that they are. This year we didn’t get to do that, so it was just one lap for the freshmen.”
Interviewer: “Why do you think they didn’t let people do as many laps as they used to do?”
ST: “The town had a problem with kids running around the fire and the fire safety hazard that it caused, so that was the compromise that they came to.”
Interviewer: “Why do you think that tradition started?”
ST: “I think it started as a way to unite the classes and make people feel like they were good friends with people in their class and community.”
Interviewer: “And do you think there’s a reason it takes place on the green?”
ST: “The green is kind of symbolic for Dartmouth and is also centrally located, so I think that it’s the perfect place for a tradition to happen.”
Interviewer: ”Do you think there’s a reason the freshmen do it and not any of the upperclassmen?”
ST: “Yeah because the freshmen are just getting into it because it happens in fall, so they want the freshmen to feel like they really belong on campus, where as the upperclassmen already have that sense of community.”
Interviewer: “What is it about the lore that makes it pleasing? What makes it artistic, powerful, or persuasive?”
ST: “It’s a huge tradition that every knows about, so I feel like everyone gets really excited about it and they hear about it from the upperclassmen so it makes them want to participate in it. It’s also a huge fire, so I think people are excited about that.”
Interviewer: “How does the lore function in the lives of the people who possess it? What needs does it meet in their lives?”
ST: “It creates a bond when you’re just starting out freshman year, so it kind of satisfies friendship or the need to belong on campus.”
Interviewer: “What does the lore tell us about the values and attitudes of the individuals and the groups to which they belong?”
ST: “It tells us that kids really love traditions and want to participate in Dartmouth’s campus life.”
James Turner, 21
25 Grapevine Rd, Gloucester, MA
7 W Wheelock St, Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College
Russian 13
Spring 2019
Landmark and verbal folklore
The Lou’s Challenge
Sydney Towle
Baker-Berry Library at Dartmouth College
May 21, 2019
Informant Data:
Sydney Towle is a freshman student at Dartmouth College. As a freshman, she has gained exposure to many of Dartmouth’s traditions and can remember her first interactions with each tradition very clearly. Sydney is involved with sustainability on campus through several organizations. She was raised in South Florida, along with her older brother, by her mother and her step-father.
Social Context:
The data was collected in Baker-Berry Library on May 21st, 2019. The informant was asked to be interviewed regarding campus folklore and answered a series of questions pertaining to the topic. Sydney learned of The Lou’s Challenge on Trips, like the homecoming bonfire, where her trip-leaders discussed some of the famous traditions on campus. The Lou’s Challenge consists of a group of friends who collectively decide to pull an all-nighter, followed by an early breakfast at Lou’s. The people participate in the performance by making the decision to stay up all night with their friends, and mutually agree to get breakfast immediately following this experience.
Cultural Context:
Grabbing a meal with friends has always been, especially in college, a way to socialize and catch up on life. Staying up all night with friends, although much more rare, is also a time of important social bonding. Combining these two activities is a great way for students to really form strong connections with their friends.
Item:
The folklore was collected through an interview and audio recorded. The transcript is below exactly as it was recorded.
Interviewer: ”Can you start by explaining what the Lou’s Challenge is?”
ST: ”The Lou’s Challenge is where people stay up all night and then go get breakfast in the morning with their friends.”
Interviewer:”Why do you think people do that?”
ST:”It’s part of a tradition. I think it’s a fun thing to do with your friends, especially before you graduate it’s just something you have to do.”
Interviewer:”Why do you think it started?”
ST:”I think people probably just decided to stay up all night one night and then go get breakfast at Lou’s the next morning and then decided it was a good challenge to do.”
Interviewer:”How did you hear about it? How does it get passed along?”
ST:”Definitely your freshmen year I feel like people just talk about it, upperclassmen tell you about it. Then it just becomes a thing you have to do with your friends.”
Interviewer:”“\What is it about the lore that makes it pleasing? What makes it artistic, powerful, or persuasive?”
ST:”I think it’s pleasing because people want to complete traditions here and it just makes you feel like your a part of a community.”
Interviewer: “How does the lore function in the lives of the people who possess it? What needs does it meet in their lives?”
ST:”It functions as a way to bring people together and fosters community on campus.”
friendship or the need to belong on campus.”
Interviewer: “What does the lore tell us about the values and attitudes of the individuals and the groups to which they belong?”
ST: “It shows that people really value traditions and wanting to take part in things on campus.”
James Turner, 21
25 Grapevine Rd, Gloucester, MA
7 W Wheelock St, Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College
Russian 13
Spring 2019
Dartmouth College Landmark Folklore
The Polar Bear Plunge
Mira Ram
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
May 21st, 2019
Informant Data:
Mira Ram is an undergraduate student at Dartmouth College from Kansas City, Missouri. She is currently a junior and studies digital arts in computer science. She is part of the East Wheelock house community and is also involved with Dali Lab on campus.
Social Context:
The Polar Bear Plunge is a college-sponsored event that occurs at Occom Pond, located on the North side of campus, during Winter Carnival each year. Winter Carnival is a college event that happens over a weekend during the winter term of Dartmouth College’s quarter schedule. It is a chance for students to unwind and participate in fun activities, such as the aforementioned Polar Plunge, with their friends. Other events that also happen around this time include the 99-cents ski day and ice sculpture carving. When asked about why the Polar Bear Plunge is particularly memorable, Mira says that “it is something that is very unique to Dartmouth” and she doesn’t know “any other college that would officially sponsor such an event”. It is certainly a Dartmouth tradition and is on many people’s bucket list before they graduate. Basically, students would jump into a small pool carved out on Occom Pond and swim around for a bit in the freezing winter. There would also be emergency responders present to ensure that everyone stays safe. This would fall under customary lore as it is something the students would perform.
Cultural Context:
The Polar Bear Plunge shows a lot about what makes Dartmouth College unique for the students. It represents an opportunity for students to take a risk and do something they have never done before that can only happen in the freezing New England winter. It also gives a chance for the students to bond with each other, and Mira has even seen professors would take part as well. It is no wonder why Dartmouth College would want to support such a tradition and ensure it continues in a safe manner.
Collectors Comments:
I, personally, have yet to try to do the Polar Bear Plunge, but it is definitely something I want to do before graduating. By doing something so radical that you wouldn’t normally do, Polar Bear Plunge can be seen as a Rites of Initiation for students to feel closer as part of the overall Dartmouth community.
Eric Zhang, 21
839 Wellner RD
Naperville, IL 60540
Dartmouth College
Russian 13
Spring 2019
Dartmouth College Landmark Folklore
Green Key Concert
Mira Ram
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
May 21st, 2019
Informant Data:
Mira Ram is an undergraduate student at Dartmouth College from Kansas City, Missouri. She is currently a junior and studies digital arts in computer science. She is part of the East Wheelock house community and is also involved with Dali Lab on campus.
Social Context:
The Green Key Concert is a college event organized by the Programming Board that occurs at Gold Coast Lawn, in front of the Gold Coast dormitories, during Green Key each year. Green Key happens every spring term of Dartmouth College’s quarter schedule. A lot of the student body looks forward to the Green Key as a time to take a break from studying and enjoy the nicer weather outside. Mira notes that “Green Key Concert, in particular, is an attractive event for many as big-name artists would show up and perform”. Students are allowed only a few guests as the concert is mainly for the students to enjoy, and there is security at the entrance to check for official wristbands as people enter. There would be a big stage at the end of the lawn and people would congregate close to it to dance. Some people also choose to enjoy it from afar while sitting down. Green Key Concert would be customary lore as it is something people carry out through their actions. The concert would start out in the late afternoon of Green Key Friday and go into the evening for around three hours or so.
Cultural Context:
The Green Key Concert is very popular with the student body, and many people would invite their friends from home to come as well. Students would try to really finish up their work beforehand to ensure they have ample time to enjoy it. It represents a time when most of the student body would come together and have some fun. Mira notes that even alumni and students who are off for the term would come back to campus so they can enjoy this event with everyone else.
Eric Zhang, 21
839 Wellner RD
Naperville, IL 60540
Dartmouth College
Russian 13
Spring 2019
Dartmouth College Landmark Folklore
Teatime at Sanborn
Ruba Iqbal
Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
May 21st, 2019
Informant Data:
Ruba Iqbal is an undergraduate student at Dartmouth College from Detroit, Michigan. She is currently a junior and studies biology. She does research on campus and works at the snack bar in her free time. She enjoys studying at the library at times.
Social Context:
Teatime at Sanborn takes place in Sanborn Library, the home of the English department which is adjacent to the larger Baker-Berry Library at the center of campus. It happens from 4pm-5pm on the weekdays for all the students to enjoy. There would be free tea served along with cookies that can be bought with small donations. Ruba did not know about this until she “accidentally stumbled upon it while studying and was pleasantly surprised”. Everything is prepared by student volunteers and offered “a really nice atmosphere to study and even bond a little bit with others”. This would be categorized as customary lore as it is something that people do to make it happen.
Cultural Context:
The Teatime at Sanborn may not be as well-known as other Dartmouth traditions but does have an avid following. When it was close to being shuttered, alumni reached out with donations to keep it alive. The location being in Sanborn is a perfect fit for the event as students can enjoy the tea while continuing their studies inside the cozy library. It represents the studious nature of Dartmouth and allows students to support each other with some free tea along the way.
Collectors Comments:
I have not personally attended a Teatime at Sanborn yet, but would definitely look forward to being a part of it if I am around Sanborn during that time. I can see how this would be a big deal for people who really enjoy studying at Sanborn as it allows them to form a closer bond with each other.
Eric Zhang, 21
839 Wellner RD
Naperville, IL 60540
Dartmouth College
Russian 13
Spring 2019