Lest the Old Traditions Fail

Monday, October 22, 2001

A tradition lives. Two Dartmouth students rushed the football field at the Homecoming game on Saturday. After the marching band finished its performance, in which a tuba player nearly incinerated himself when a flaming rag fell from his instrument (why did he have a flaming rag in his tuba?), one student wearing a class of 2005 t-shirt sprinted from the student section and onto the field. The home stand erupted with thunderous applause as he made his way to center field, where he pulled vigorously on his shirt and thrust his arms into the air and hollered inaudibly, before heading toward the north endzone. He easily eluded several police officers to the joy of the Dartmouth faithful before hurdelling restraining ropes to exit the field uncaught and unscathed.

Five minutes later, another student, also wearing an '05 jersey, worked his way through the student stands and took a seat. Despite his being clad in a ghoul mask with flowing, mangy hair, few students took notice until he leaped from the stands and followed a similar route towards midfield, again inciting the crowd, whose boisterous cheers encouraged him further. After circling briefly around center field, he fled toward the north endzone. Police and College Safety & Security officers made little effort to apprehend him. After crossing the endzone, the student ducked into the tunnel that leads to the equipment room and gymnasium, outside of which officers converged and filed in after him. Two minutes later, the rusher emerged, de-masked, handcuffed, and flanked on either side by Hanover Police officers. The police led him toward the student section. Spectators booed and chanted very derogatory names at the officers. After recieving a radio dispatch, the police reversed direction, and the manacled student, his back to the crowd, waved his cuffed hands. The crowd roared in effusive approval. His escorts, however, quickly grabbed his hands to prevent any further incitement.

One police officer explained to the Review that the department is mostly unconcerned about students rushing the field. 'We wouldn't really do anything if the school didn't make us.' Further, the police are unwilling to tackle students or expend any great exertion to detain them. 'We don't lose any sleep over it.' Past efforts have been futile and even, in the case of one car chase, dangerous.

The Review applauds these pillars of the Dartmouth community for their willingness to put themselves in danger to remind us all of another disappearing Dartmouth tradition.

Other students had run-ins with the law over Homecoming weekend. At the previous night's bonfire, 24 were arrested, according to the same officer. Most were detained for 'disorderly conduct,' the sobriquet given to those who touched the enflamed pyre. Police arrested others for possession of alcohol and intoxication.

Lest the Old Traditions Fail

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