DePauw Little 5: “The world’s best holiday”

Okay, so maybe this is a bit of an exaggeration, but Little Five is definitely DePauw’s best holiday. Pink neon hats worn by both guys and girls, couches on front lawns, and sporadic concerts and dance parties all afternoon and into the night? Can’t beat it. I love Monon as much as anyone else but, let’s be honest, we’ve all been looking forward to Little Five since the clock ran out on Wabash’s scoreboard in November.
 
So, in the spirit of the festivities, I have a few words to the wise for you to make this weekend even more fantastic than you planned.
 
Know the course. This year, instead of the track, the Little Five powers-that-be decided to move the course back to the road. This is the first time anyone in the current student body has seen a Little Five road race. It should be exciting for everyone involved, especially the riders. So where is the race, exactly? The course will run in an almost-square around Julian and Lilly, running past both buildings, onto East Hannah in front of Olin and Julian, and then cutting onto the one-way between the side of Peeler and Julian on Indiana before winding around to the other side of Lily on Olive Street. Basically, if you hang around Julian, Lily, Bowman, or Peeler, you’re good to go. If in doubt, follow the crowd. Also, my sources tell me that if you want to be in the center of it all and stand on the lawn of Lilly or Julian, it’s totally possible. Just make sure you cross at the crosswalks, or else Public Safety (or a bike for that matter) might chase you down.
 
Actually make it to the race, both for the girls and guys. I know it seems obvious, but I can’t tell you how strange it was my freshman and sophomore year when a small percentage of people showed up for the women’s race verses the guy’s race. The women work just as hard as the men, and it’s always a close race. Plus, it’s likely you have several friends racing, whether you’re in a house or not. Hopefully, since the race is more centrally located this won’t be a problem. I know it’s tempting to take a nap after the morning festivities, but come on, we’re DePauw students! We know how to fight through exhaustion, whether it’s for tomorrow’s paper or the best bike race of the year. So grab your last Red Bull, take a swig, and head outside to cheer on your favorite ladies.
 
Keep an eye on the weather. Don’t be the only girl in the picture that looks like they got hit by a monsoon. According to Monday’s account of the weekend forecast, we have a few scattered thunderstorms coming our way. I know, I know… I’m a Debbie Downer, but it’s better to be aware now so you can prepare your polka-dotted rain boots and other rainy-day necessities before the race starts. Or just play in the rain. We all know Bowman turns into a pond when it rains, so maybe we can all take a mid-race dip in the mud. Don’t act like you haven’t thought about it… I know I have. 
 
Be in the Know. There are a few Little Five festivities that will never die, and the events that take place at fraternities during the weekend, whether you drink or not, are a big part of what makes the weekend so memorable. So where should you be when? For Friday night, you can head over to ATO, Delt, Phi Psi, and Sigma Chi for their pre-Little Five registered celebrations. In the morning before the race, check out Sigma Chi for what they registered as their “Voyage du Vino” (but what most upperclassmen know by another name), or Delt for a sweet concert from some Indiana bands. ATO and Beta are also hosting before the race as well (and they might have some interesting events as well, I just haven’t heard about them). After you’ve lost your voice, taken a nap, and eaten a shameful number of GCB’s post-race, you can head back over to Beta, Sigma Chi, Delt, or ATO for the night or check out SAE, Fiji, or DU. But really, wherever you end up, you can’t go wrong.
 
Be smart. Let it be known that I’m no one’s mother, but faithful readers of Her Campus, I do care about you and your well being. So here’s my not-so-conventional senior schpeel about drinking this weekend should you choose to drink (and even if you don’t). First and most importantly, stay with your friends. There are lots of guys on this campus we all know, love, and trust, but this weekend there will be many more that we don’t. So the best way to avoid the big issues is to stick together. If your drink tastes differently than it should, tell someone and throw it out (and better yet, let someone know who can do something about it). Do the same if you start to feel strange. Also, watch your drinks being poured, even if it’s someone you know, so you know exactly how much alcohol you’re taking in. The oh-so-popular arm tally isn’t a bad idea here, but if you feel that’s too old school, you can always spell something out or put the marks in an inconspicuous spot. Finally, make sure you have Public Safety in your phone (765-658-4261). They aren’t the bad guys… in fact, they’re normally extremely helpful.
 
Last but not least, have fun! For some, this may be your first Little Five, and for others it may be your last. No matter where you are on your Little Five timeline, live this weekend up… after all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year.