Dartmouth College Traditions - Weekends - Tubestock and Fieldstock

Tubestock and Fieldstock

Tubestock was an unofficial tradition, never endorsed by the College, that occurred each summer for about two decades prior to 2006, when it was canceled due to new town and state laws. Typical of the other weekends, Tubestock was "a weekend of big drinking"; in this tradition, students built wooden rafts and used rubber inner tubes to float down the Connecticut River. A unique element in Tubestock is that it is usually only sophomores who are present in Hanover for classes over the summer (due to the scheduling plan known as the D-Plan, which requires that sophomore summer be spent in Hanover).

In March 2006, the town of Hanover prepared to enforce its requirement that any event on the Connecticut River present a permit. In the past, Tubestock has technically been illegal, but since no entity officially sanctioned the event, no one could be held responsible; under the proposed legislation, individuals participating could be arrested for illegally congregating on a state waterway. The Dartmouth Editorial Board quickly condemned the action and cited the rapid formation of "Save Tubestock" student committees.

The Dartmouth reported on July 11, 2006 that a final town meeting had permanently put an end to Tubestock for those who did not wish to be arrested. Students organized an alternative event called "Fieldstock" to preserve "a class-unifying event and maybe even start it as a new tradition."