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Hill Winds, Granite Brains, and Other Dartmouth Traditions

Winter Carnival. The Homecoming Bonfire. First-year trips with the Dartmouth Outing Club (DOC). These are just a few of the time-honored traditions that set Dartmouth apart from its Ivy League peers. One Dartmouth tradition—rubbing for good luck the bronze nose on the Warner Bentley bust in the Hopkins Center—was even mentioned on the hit TV show Grey's Anatomy, thanks to the show's creator and executive producer, Shonda Rhimes '91.

Last fall, a group of students began leading tours that focus on Dartmouth's traditions. The Hill Winds Society has twenty-six undergraduate members and was formed to give alumni and parents an opportunity to gain insights into current student life while also learning the history behind Dartmouth's storied traditions. Sponsored by the Office of Alumni Relations, Hill Winds members also play a role in organizing and preserving Dartmouth traditions such as Green Key weekend. And thanks to funding from the Sphinx Foundation and the Class of 1969, the group is producing a book about Dartmouth traditions that will be given to first-year students during orientation this fall.

We asked members of the Hill Wills Society to reflect on two of the most visible Dartmouth traditions, DOC trips and Homecoming.

On Homecoming:

"My favorite Dartmouth tradition is running around the bonfire during Homecoming freshman year. Not only is it a great chance to bond with your class while running your hundred-some laps, but it's truly the first time you feel a part of Dartmouth and that Dartmouth is your home." —Abby Reed '08, New York, New York

"Homecoming is the best expression of what it means to be part of the Dartmouth community, and the bond we all share. The true Dartmouth spirit is shown when alumni, parents, family members, community members, and students come out to build the bonfire and welcome the new freshmen to the Dartmouth family. The camaraderie during the building of the bonfire is intense, and our undying love for Dartmouth is shown throughout the traditions of Homecoming, including the freshmen sweep, the lighting of the bonfire, and the football game." —Raymond Rodriguez '09, Miami, Florida

"I'd have to say that my favorite Dartmouth tradition is the Homecoming bonfire. I liked that it's a tradition mainly geared toward freshmen and I know it's a night I will remember fondly when I look back on my four years here. I will never forget the anticipation as all the freshmen waited with their friends at the different clusters to be picked up in the freshmen sweep." —Cristina Brennan '10, Key Biscayne, Florida

On DOC Trips:

"When they dropped me in front of Robinson Hall the evening before DOC trips began, I know my parents were hesitant to leave me in the company of H-Croo's rainbow-haired, crazily dressed, singing and dancing upperclassmen. I'd never been camping before and hadn't expected to like it very much, but I had a fabulous time. It was an awesome introduction to Dartmouth and an amazing way to start off the year." —Katie Cheng '10, Raleigh, North Carolina

"DOC trips are full of secret little surprises, inspirational speeches from upperclassmen, and a wonderful introduction to many other Dartmouth traditions like the Salty Dog Rag and the Alma Mater. All of these make us realize what a long history we're becoming a part of and what it really means to be a Dartmouth student." —Ediz Tiyansan '09, Istanbul, Turkey