It's been a week of firsts: the first snow in Greencastle (to everyone who didn't know that it snowed during Fall Break), it was the first time my best friend could legally buy booze, the first time some of my fellow seniors did a boulder run and the first time I turned in a paper more than a day late.
For some of you, this week will bring a special first: your first Monon Bell Classic.
Whether you are a visiting student from another university, an alum, a parent or you just came for the good time, welcome! This really is a fantastic time to be at DePauw. With new renovations and updates to even the light poles and sidewalks, campus is absolutely stunning. Thank you to all of the DePauw community for your efforts in shaping our university to be as aesthetically appealing as our students are. The campus really feels like a different place than it did three years ago.
My first Monon was in 2010 and took place on the enemy's turf. I rode a fraternity bus to Crawfordsville, with people whom I had only known for a few weeks, and I had no idea what to expect.
Today, a first-year international student in my French 101 class asked, "Is Monon really that big of a deal?"
Everyone in the room offered their collective, affirmative response. "Yes."
"Well what do you do?" She asked with honest curiosity. There was more variance in the answers to this question, but they were loud somewhat aggressive and expressed the same theme. You celebrate (and by that I mean party). She said she had never been to a fraternity, which we encouraged her to try. It really is a part of the DePauw experience, especially this week.
If you've read any issue of the Princeton Review's "Top Party School" lists in the last five years, you would know we were not lying to our classmate. Anyone who goes to DePauw, went to DePauw or has a child at DePauw, knows the Monon Bell. The tradition is long-standing, and has really come a long way. If you haven't checked out the old photographs of DePauw in the Lilly Center or the Union Building of the football teams with only ten people and yearling trees where the giants next to East College now stand, you should check them out. DePauw has a rich history, and the Monon Bell is a big part of that.
The point is to have fun, and that's exactly what we do. Whether or not you drink or go to the tailgate, there is a high-level of energy that is beaming from the DePauw family this week, Greencastle included, which I find impossible to ignore. This same pride will be expressed on game day, at Nick Mourouzis Field at Blackstock Stadium (I'll admit I only learned the name of the field from Walker Chance's email just yesterday). Although I am, as I'm sure many others are, extremely proud of the DePauw and Wabash collaboration in support of Freedom Indiana, I must say I am not in support of the four consecutive wins the Little Giants have achieved, and I hope that everyone is in support of one thing: ringing that bell.
There is a strong chance that some individuals won't even go to the game on Saturday, but you can still show Tiger pride. This weekend is a big deal, and it will hopefully make all of you first-timers feel lucky to take part in. In case you didn't read Director of Public Safety Angie Nally's email, the parking lot opens for tailgating at 9 a.m on Saturday morning. I'll see you there.
-- Dickman is a senior from Zionsville, Ind. whose majoring in english writing.
