This year’s effort to organize and plan Dandelion Day, one of University of Rochester’s oldest standing traditions, has been intensive. The stakes are high and the pressure to ensure the day’s sustainability lies not with one student group, but with the entire student body. From all sides, we hear one clear statement: keep Dandelion Day safe now, or it will end forever. This charge, while empowering us with legitimacy, gives us the onus to show that we can celebrate the day responsibly.

Founded in 1951 by the Chairman of Traditions, the aim of Dandelion Day was to give students a well deserved break before the finals period commenced.  The Provost would cancel classes, and the day was marked by field-day events.  However, as decades passed, the focus of Dandelion Day diverged away from this.  Spirit events, traditions, and activities were replaced in the 1970s by a carnival atmosphere and beer trucks.  Dandelion Day had become a liability, not a celebration, for the University. Many have resigned to the fact that students are unsafe on Dandelion Day, and therefore it must end. We disagree with this conclusion. Dandelion Day can be preserved, but first it must change.  It must return to its original spirit. This is our aim.

This year, we plan on restoring the field day atmosphere.  It is important to get students outside by engaging them in safe and coordinated activities. This will be possible thanks to the creativity and generosity of many student groups. In addition to programming, we will also be providing live entertainment. Though we cannot name them here, there will be several musical performances outside of Wilson Commons throughout the day. This will provide a central location, the Wilson Quadrangle, for the various programs and entertainment.

We are also providing food for you. Both Uncle Dickie and Nancy’s Fried Dough have agreed to appear. Additionally, Cam Schauf, director of dining services and auxiliary operations, has been incredibly helpful.  He has agreed to allow student Declining and URos donations to offset the cost of food. We raised over $2,500 in two days to pay for free pizza and bagels during the day.

Although our efforts thus far have been successful, we still have a long way to go. We urge student groups to contact us about coordinating various activities throughout the day. Also, we continue to search for sober volunteers. Helping to coordinate Dandelion Day will be both fun and rewarding. Volunteers will be able to say they took an active role in preserving this tradition. The entire student body will be rewarded for your contributions.

As we approach Dandelion Day, the four of us have been filled with both fear and excitement. Our journey to coordinate the day’s events is a dynamic one – every time we find ourselves in a hole, another administrator or student group is there to help us out. Although this success has created a great sense of optimism, we are still fearful that everyone’s time and money will go to waste. The only way this day can be successful is if students stay safe. Members of MERT, ROTC, and Sigma Beta Rho are sacrificing their day to do this. But the only real chance we have at throwing a safe Dandelion Day is if students act responsibly. We ask that you to come outside and enjoy the festivities. Do not sit in your room trying to discover how much vodka your stomach can hold. If you are going to drink, make sure you know your limits and do not exceed them.

Dandelion Day has the potential to continue being an incredibly fun festival for many years to come. But, its success lies in the hands of all 4,000 of us. Let us not rob future students of this exciting and highly anticipated tradition. Our behavior this year will determine the future of Dandelion Day in years to come.  Please contact us at sapres@mail.rochester.edu if you are willing to help us.