Informant Data: B.D. is a male Dartmouth student in the class of 2022 who is majoring in government. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised in Matthews, North Carolina where he started playing baseball at the age of 7. He is currently competing on the varsity baseball team at Dartmouth College, playing as an infielder.
Contextual Data:
Cultural Context: In baseball, there are four bases that a player must round in order to score a point for their team. They can advance to the next base when the person batting hits the ball in play and it is not caught. They must get to the next base before being tagged by the ball, or before a player on the other team holding the ball touches the base they are running to. Once a person on the batting team reaches “home plate,” which is the final base, their team gets a point.
Social Context: This superstition was collected at the Baker Library when asking the informant if he had any personal or team superstitions. It has been around for a very long time and he is not really sure where or how it originated, but he found out about it before his first practice with the Dartmouth baseball team.
Item:
If a freshman touches home plate before their first Ivy League game, then they will play poorly for the rest of the season and the team will lose that first game.
Transcript:
“For team superstitions, we have this one where no one who is a freshman can touch home plate until they play their first Ivy League game… If they do, they will definitely play badly and the team will lose that first game.”
Informant’s Comments:
“In my time at Dartmouth, all the freshmen have been very wary of touching home plate, and no one has broken this rule, so it seems as though everyone believes in it, including myself.”
Collector’s Comments:
I find this superstition interesting in that it not only affects the individual who touches home plate, but it affects the team as a whole as well.
General Information: Title: DOC Trips Form of Folklore: Customary, outdoors trip Language: English Place of Origin: Hanover, NH, United States Informant: G.M. Date Collected: October 29th, 2021
Informant Data: G.M. is a 22-year-old member of the Dartmouth class of 2022. He is a history major with a focus on global economic history, and a member of a fraternity on campus. He grew up in New York City and enjoys being able to enjoy the nature of New Hampshire. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and swimming in natural waters.
Contextual Data: – Social Context: The first thing G.M. experienced at Dartmouth was the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC) First-Year Trips Program. The Trips program is organized and run by upperclassmen students through the DOC, and takes place prior to students moving into their dormitories and attending ‘Orientation Week’. The program is a collection of organized seven-day trips, and is aimed at giving students a brief introduction to some other freshmen and upperclassmen, and to give students a taste of Dartmouth before formally moving in and starting the orientation program. Groups of five to eight incoming students are paired with two upperclassmen, and each group is assigned an activity to do over the course of three to four days, ranging from hiking to canoeing to farming to arts and crafts. G.M. participated in the ‘Hiking 4 Trip’, a hiking trip for students with prior hiking experience. Students are randomly assigned their upperclassmen leaders and fellow group of freshmen (their ‘trippees’), and because students are arriving from all over the country (and the world) the students are exposed to people from varying backgrounds and interests. At the time of collection, George is a senior reflecting back on his freshman year experience. – Cultural Context: Participating in the DOC Trips program is an important experience for most students, particularly because roughly 90% of the freshmen participate every year. It is a common experience the incoming freshmen share, and it serves as a commonality among all students to discuss during the first weeks at Dartmouth. It is also an important tradition as it introduces students to the DOC, a very large organization on campus that oversees a lot of smaller sub clubs. One of Dartmouth’s unique selling points is the opportunity to use the surrounding outdoors, and the DOC offers students of all experience levels the opportunity to engage in all sorts of outdoors activities in New Hampshire, Vermont, and beyond. Because Dartmouth markets itself as an outdoors-oriented school, the widespread participation in DOC Trips cements Dartmouth’s image as a place where you can enjoy and learn to enjoy nature.
Item: During the weeks before the freshman orientation program, Dartmouth’s freshmen participate in the DOC Trips. The freshmen arrive on campus and meet outside Robinson Hall (DOC headquarters) where they are greeted by upperclassmen dressed in colorful and flamboyant outfits. They meet their upperclassmen leaders and their trippees, and spend the first night preparing for their trip. Early the next morning they embark on their activity, and for the next three days they only interact with the members of their group. G.M. and his trippees spent four days hiking mountains in New Hampshire. The last night, all the various trips groups unite at the Moosilauke Ravine Lodge, regardless of what activities they have been doing over the past few days, and they all participate in songs and dance before returning to campus the next day.
Associated File:
G.M. and his ‘trippees’ at the summit of Mt Moosilauke during their Hiking 4 trip
Transcript: Collector: “What do you remember most about DOC Trips?”
Informant: “We got lost on our hike and didn’t end up making it to our campsite on time. It was pouring rain and we just had to put tarps up on the trail and the whole thing was miserable. But, you know, good friends are made in misery. I knew that the people on my trip weren’t going to be my close friends, but it felt really nice having people to text during the first few weeks when I had no one to hang out with. Eventhough you are randomly assigned your trippees and it can put you in an awkward ill-fitting social circle, it puts you in a social circle nonetheless.”
Collector Comment: I had the flu during my assigned trip, so I was unable to participate in the trips program. However, I can understand G.M.’s sentiment that while your trips-friends might not become your best friends, you have met people and spent enjoyable time with them nonetheless.
Collected By: Una Westvold Oslo, Norway Hanover, NH Dartmouth College RUSS 013 Fall 2021
General Information: Informant: Braden Mullen Place: Hanover, NH Date: November 2, 2021 Genre/Form of folklore: Customary/Ritual Title: “Bonfire”
Informant Data: Braden Mullen is a 19-year-old Dartmouth student who is part of the class of 2025. He is from Glenview, Illinois, but he lives on campus at Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire since the beginning of the fall term. He is a student-athlete participating on the football team and has an interest in studying economics.
Contextual Data: Every fall term at Dartmouth there is a Homecoming celebration, which consists of parades, speeches, a bonfire, and homecoming football game. The bonfire is built on the center of the green with the freshman’s class number displayed largely at the top of the fire. The freshmen are supposed to run/walk around the fire.
Social Data: Homecoming weekend and the bonfire are intended to welcome the freshmen class to the Dartmouth community, while also providing a time for alumni to visit. When the freshmen run around the fire, the upperclassmen shout for them to “touch the fire.”
Item: The homecoming bonfire built on Dartmouth’s green with the freshmen’s class number at the top.
Transcript: Collector: “What is your attitude towards Homecoming Weekend and the Bonfire tradition?”
Informant: “The bonfire was a really cool experience since it showed me how important traditions are at Dartmouth, especially since I saw so many alumni enjoying the event. It was a little weird to have both the 24 and 25 on top of the bonfire since COVID prevented the sophomores from having their chance to run around the fire.”
Collector Comment: As an older student, I really enjoy homecoming weekend since many of the recent graduates come back for the event. Although I have never seen someone attempt to touch the fire, the stories of individuals making the attempt are often reiterated during homecoming weekend. It is also interesting to hear how the tradition has evolved from alumni.
General Information: Informant: Evan Fu Place: Hanover, NH Date: October 22, 2021 Genre/Form of folklore: Customary/Ritual Title: “First-Year Trips”
Informant Data: Evan Fu is a 21-year-old Dartmouth student who is part of the class of 2022. He is from Palo Alto, California, and he lives on campus at Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire for most of the year. He is a computer science major and an active member in Dartmouth’s investing program.
Contextual Data: In the weeks prior to freshmen orientation, the Dartmouth Outing Club organizes the first-year trips, which take incoming freshmen on a wide range of outings such as mountain biking, fishing, hiking, etc. The groups consist of six to eight freshman and two upperclassmen. During the trips, the freshmen do not have access to their phones or showers and are expected to have all their belongings in one portable bag.
Social Data: The first-year trips can be an intimidating experience for freshmen since it requires them to spend a few days in the outdoors with people they didn’t know before. This experience allows for freshmen to create relationships prior to orientation week and learn about the outdoor activities available to them around campus.
Item: Every fall, freshmen go on a trip led by the Dartmouth Outing Club to experience the outdoors around Dartmouth’s campus.
Transcript: Collector: “How did DOC trips make you feel as a freshman coming into a new environment?”
Informant: “The first-year trips were definitely an interesting experience that made me feel like everything about Dartmouth revolved around the outdoors, and it felt like the Dartmouth Outing Club was attempting to force this focus on outdoors. As someone who isn’t very interested in the outdoors, I felt disillusioned which quickly changed when I came back to campus. Although I did meet a lot of people, the trip really felt like a summer camp and shouldn’t be a deciding factor for coming to Dartmouth”
Collector Comment: I was never able to go on my trip since they are held during fall camp for football, but I have heard a wide range of reviews and experiences.
General Information: Informant: Keegan McHugh Place: Hanover, NH Date: October 23, 2021 Genre/Form of folklore: Customary/Ritual Title: “Highlighter Party”
Informant Data: Keegan is a 22-year-old Dartmouth College student who is a member of the class of 2022. He is from Bel Air, Maryland, but he has lived around or on campus at Dartmouth continuously for the past 3 years. He is a student-athlete on the football team and is majoring in sociology.
Contextual Data: During freshmen fall there is a fraternity ban, which last for the first six weeks of the term. This ban means that freshmen are not allowed to enter a fraternity or Greek life house except for one party held by Chi Heorot. This party is referred to as “highlighter” due to the theme being neon or highlighter colored attire.
Social Data: The Highlighter party allows Dartmouth freshman to experience an alcohol-free fraternity event specifically designed for their class. This event allows the freshmen to enjoy a party while also building relationships within their class.
Item: The Highlighter Party is a dry event for the freshmen held at Chi Heorot during the fall term.
Transcript: Collector: “Are there any other traditions we haven’t discussed that you think are important to freshman fall at Dartmouth?”
Informant: “The highlighter party at Heorot is one of my fondest memories of freshman fall since it allowed us to enjoy an actual fraternity party rather than being in a dorm room due to the fraternity ban. I was able to meet a ton of people outside of my team and built relationships with a lot of people that I am still friends with today.”
Collector Comment: I remember the highlighter party being so popular that individuals were doing anything possible to get inside. This tradition also provides a much more efficient way to meet people than dorm parties that typically occur during freshman fall since dorm parties typically involve people you have met previously.
General Information: Informant: Patrick Wright Place: Hanover, NH Date: October 27, 2021 Genre/Form of folklore: Customary/Ritual Title: “Snowball Fight”
Informant Data: Patrick is a 20-year-old Dartmouth student who is a part of the class of 2023. He was born and raised in Georgia, but he lives on campus at Dartmouth in Hanover, NH for most of the year. He is a student-athlete participating on the football team and has an interest in studying economics. His grandfather, James Wright, was the President of Dartmouth College from 1998 to 2009.
Contextual Data: On the first snow fall of the year, Dartmouth undergraduates receive an email from Dr. Seuss to Robert Frost and the undergraduate community. The email entails a poem, which invites the students to partake in a snowball fight on the green at midnight.
Social Data: The first snowfall of the year can be a sign of a long winter coming for Dartmouth freshman coming from areas with a more moderate climate, but the snowball fight provides an opportunity for freshman students to see the positive aspects of Hanover, New Hampshire’s snowy weather. The involvement of the whole undergraduate community in a playful snowball fight introduces the freshman into a campus that celebrates the location of the college.
Item: Snowball fight conducted at midnight on the first snowfall of the year, which is initiated by an email from Dr. Seuss.
Transcript: Collector: “Are there any other traditions we haven’t discussed that you think are important to freshman year at Dartmouth College?”
Informant: “The snowball fight was a pretty cool experience since I’m originally from an area that rarely ever sees snow. I prefer the warmer weather so the first time it really snowed; I knew that it was going to be a big adjustment for me. I was pretty confused when I randomly received the email about the snowball fight, but I ended up going and having a really good time. I think it definitely helped me adjust to the weather.”
Collector Comment: As someone from a warmer area, I understand how difficult it can be to adjust to the winter weather in Hanover, New Hampshire. The snowball fight allows students to see that they are not alone in cold, but they can actually turn the weather into something fun and constructive.
Trevor Davis is an ’18 that joined X.ado his freshman year and sang in his high school choir for three years. He is 21 years old. He was born in Wheaton, Illinois. He grew up and still lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is majoring in computer science, and minoring in math and anthropology.
Contextual Data:
Social Context
All members of X.ado participate in this ritual. It usually occurs early in the fall term after new member have been chosen. This tradition has existed for as long as the informant can remember and he first experienced it when he joined the team.
Cultural Context
X.ado wants to include the freshmen into the group, and this exercise lets the new members get comfortable, and serves to further integrate them into the group. It teaches them about the group and influences them with the group’s culture. It’s sort of like a cultural boot camp for the new members. This ritual reflects the group’s attempt to create an inclusive culture.
Item:
X.ado brings their freshmen to a new member retreat. Freshmen introduce themselves to the group, exchange funny stories such as old love stories, and play icebreaker games to get to know the other new members and returning members.
“There are some things that we always do with our new members. One is right off the bat, we like to wake them up to welcome them into the group with a song that we sing every year in X.ado called ‘The Lord Bless You’. We come to their door, early in the morning after we’ve decided to take them into the group. We wake them up and sing to them, and then we go out to a diner and have our first breakfast with them. Everyone’s tired, but you know, you’re bonding and really exicted that you have these new members. We also have a freshman retreat, and we do things like ‘get to you know’, and ‘hot seat’, and get stories from the new members like they always tell us their history and love stories and stuff like that. It’s always really entertaining and just funny ways to get to know the new members, and kind of break the ice, off the bat.”
Informant’s Comments:
See transcript
Collector’s Comments:
This is something that other groups on campus do as well. At Dartmouth, doing little retreats like this makes sense, because people are typically very busy, and if they didn’t schedule an event like this, then no one would have time to sit down with each other and meet each other.
Informant info: T.S. is a current member of the class of 2018. He is 19 years old and is from Weston, Connecticut. On campus, he is involved mostly with his fraternity. He is an Engineering major.
Type of lore: Customary, pranks
Language: English
Country of Origin: United States
Social / Cultural Context: T.S. was interviewed alone in the Baker Berry library. He has experienced the bonfire two times (once as an upperclassmen and once as a freshman).
Item: Every year during the homecoming bonfire, while the freshmen are running around the bonfire, the upperclassmen do their best to confuse and harass the freshmen. Upperclassmen will gather at the edge of the boundary and yell “touch the fire” or “you’re running the wrong way” or “worse class ever” at the freshmen. Some upperclassmen will run laps around the bonfire themselves while harassing the freshmen. In previous years, harassment was much worse and more physical.
Associated file (a video, audio, or image file):
Informant’s comments: Informant later added that he had been harassed as a freshmen, but felt that it was mostly in good fun. He went back sophomore year, but only stayed a few minutes because he was not having fun harassing the freshmen.
Collector’s comments: This tradition/prank is one that is not really passed down in a concrete way, but still manages to happen every year.
