The Underclass

It may have taken 230 years, but freshmen are finally getting some respect.

1769

Dartmouth is an upperclass paradise. There are no freshmen. Everyone in the newly opened College is a transfer student.

1799 A College regulation, known as fagging, requires freshmen to run errands for seniors who started at Dartmouth as freshmen.

1865

It is a tradition among sophomores to insult and abuse freshmen. The faculty passes a cease-and-desist resolution.

1896

A group of sophomores armed with a revolver kidnap a freshman. The faculty passes a hostage-release resolution.

1915

In an early attempt at decreasing the influence of fraternities, the College bans the practice of pledging young men before they become students. The fraternities comply. They pledge 76 freshmen on the first day of school.

1937

A new macaroni and vegetable salad is added to the dining hall menu. The intent is to make the food less boring. Freshmen take to the streets. They protest in favor of the status quo.

1945

Seasoned war veterans make up a significant portion of the freshman class. Hazing, as a tradition, lapses.

1950

The class of 1954 builds an outhouse on the Green as a "frosh dedication to the sophomores."

1953

Tug o' war replaces Football Rush. The injury rate drops.

1973

Freshman beanies are no longer required.

1991

The Outing Club drops the name "Freshman Trips" because of the title's gender exclusivity.

1996

Dartmouth, officially speaking, no longer has a freshman class. Members of the arriving class are now known as "firstyear students." Administratively the task of overseeing the pea-greeners falls to the "First-Year Office." m

This poor fellow wasahead of his time.