When you ask Caleb Latreille why Dalhousie needs an alternative Frosh week, he has a story.
This year, during Dalhousie Frosh Week, he was eating at a sushi restaurant in Halifax. A pack of frosh decked out in neon walked in. One did a shot of wasabi, puked, and then they all left without paying.
âThey took up all this space and didnât offer anything back,â he said.
Latreille was one organizer of Rad Frosh, an alternative to Frosh week put on by the Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group (NSPIRG). He says itâs about introducing new students to the wider community theyâve been plunked into — a community wider than a few residence buildings and the nearest meal hall.
NSPIRG outreach and administration co-ordinator Andrew Jantzen says a critical engagement with Froshâs usual drinking culture is encouraged, but Rad Frosh isnât dry, and it isnât about not partying.
Jantzen says part of the difference is how events are presented. This yearâs itinerary included dance parties and concerts as well as panels about ethical food and sexual liberation. All of the events are open to new and returning students as well as the general population. At Rad Frosh dance parties, marginalized people can feel safe and participants arenât inundated with negative messages about sex.
Rad Frosh doesnât pit itself against regular Frosh. Jantzen says co-operation between the two depends on whoâs organizing Dalhousieâs Frosh Week. This year there was a lot of cross-promotion, but Rad Frosh is intentionally still separate.
Rad Frosh lets students pick and choose what they want to do. Latreille says when he came to university, regular Frosh âremoved my voice,â by having a solid week of programming during which everyone was supposed to attend everything.
Rad Frosh has been going on at Dalhousie for six years. Latreille says it doesnât represent a national PIRG alternative frosh week, but there are others across the country which have been sources of inspiration.
Dance-parties aside, Rad Frosh doesnât disappoint on the quirky event front.
When asked what the most successful event was this year, both Jantzen and Latreille were quick to bring up Dalhousie Association of Women in Lawâs night of feminist legal bingo. They both said it was one of their favourite nights — and educational, too.