The call has gone out to alumni far and wide to join students, faculty, staff, and the wider Dartmouth community for this year’s homecoming celebrations. The theme for 2022 is celebrating 50 years of women’s athletics.
“We are thrilled to welcome alumni to campus for homecoming, Oct. 28-29. The weekend is a chance to reconnect with our wonderful campus and community, and to celebrate 50 years of Dartmouth women and Dartmouth women athletes,” says Cheryl Bascomb ’82, vice president for alumni relations.
First introduced in 1895 by then-President William Jewett Tucker, the celebration will be packed with activities for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community guests of all ages.
The commemoration of the 50th anniversary of women’s athletics kicks off Friday, Oct. 28, at Dartmouth Night with Alexi Pappas ’12, Olympian, filmmaker, and bestselling author, speaking in Loew Auditorium in the Black Family Visual Arts Center. At the event, which starts at 4:30 p.m., Pappas will share the practical lessons she’s learned about thriving as a student-athlete, chasing big dreams, and navigating mental health, plus she says she plans to share the best advice she’s ever heard. The event is sponsored by Dartmouth Athletics and the Office of Title IX. Registration is required.
Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, as Dartmouth Night builds to the bonfire, the College community is invited to a pre-parade celebration with seasonal refreshments at the DARToberfest tent on the lawn of Alumni Gym.
Student-athletes and alumni will gather at the corner of Crosby and Lebanon streets at around 7 p.m. to line up for the parade, which will proceed on foot up East Wheelock to North Main Street and around the Green. The Dartmouth College Marching Band will lead the way, followed by President Philip J. Hanlon ’77 and Gail Gentes, and including processions of alumnae athletes celebrating 50 years of women’s sports, Dartmouth teams, and alumni by class.
The Class of 2026, many wearing Dartmouth regalia and green face paint, will arrive on the Green, having been “swept”—gathered from each house community—by members of the Green Key Society for the bonfire. The bonfire ceremony begins with remarks from Bascomb, President Hanlon, Haldeman Family Director of Athletics and Recreation Mike Harrity, student athletes, and others, and as the Glee Club sings Alma Mater and the bonfire’s flames reach the wooden “26” atop of the timbers, Bascomb will invite the Class of ’26 to circle the fire.
Earlier on Friday, there will be a college admissions talk by Lee Coffin, vice provost for enrollment and dean of admissions and financial aid, and tours of the Baker Bell Tower.
Events continue Saturday with opportunities to climb Baker Tower, attend a class with Professor of Music Ash Fure, view a screening of the film Early Daughters of Dartmouth—Blazing the Trail to Coeducation by filmmaker Bill Aydelott ’72, all before the 1:30 p.m. kickoff of the Dartmouth-Harvard varsity homecoming football game at Memorial Field.
Other athletic contests on Saturday are: women’s rugby vs. Brown at 11 a.m. at Brophy Field; equestrian vs. Bridgewater at 11 a.m. at Morton Farm; and field hockey vs. Yale at noon at Chase Field. Later Saturday, women’s hockey faces off against Yale at 3 p.m. at Thompson Arena, and women’s soccer takes to the pitch against Harvard at 5 p.m. at Burnham Field.
Saturday evening, Dartmouth Athletics and Alumni Relations will host the annual invitational Wearers of the Green induction ceremony to enroll a new round of outstanding alumni athletes. The event will feature past Wearers of the Green, student athletes, coaches, and family members.
For a full listing of all the 2022 homecoming events, visit the Dartmouth Alumni website.
Dartmouth Health and Safety Policies for COVID-19 will be in effect for homecoming weekend events.
