"World's Greatest College Weekend"

Little 500 has been dubbed the "World's Greatest College Weekend," but what does that mean? Surely IU students would be able to shed some light on why this weekend is better than any event that takes place on any other campus throughout this big blue marble. \nLet's start with junior Ashley Timberlake, a student walking past the Indiana Memorial Union. She probably has some crazy story from past Little 500 weekends. \n"The last couple years I've had tests all week; so, I haven't been able to go out," she says. \nOh. No, that's OK. Someone will have a crazy story -- like streaking in Showalter Fountain or shimmying up the goalpost at Memorial Stadium. This is the "World's Greatest College Weekend," right?\nWell, how about this high school senior taking a tour of the lovely Bloomington campus? Surely he has heard stories from the boisterous bike race. \n"I just heard it's a big bike race," says Jared Knapp, a high school senior from Cicero, Ind. "Everybody trains all year for it."\nSo, Knapp, have you heard of the other things that take place during the weekend?\n"No, I haven't," he says. \nBut it's the "World's Greatest College Weekend..."\n"All the frats get together and have the big parties?" he says. \nYeah. You know what, he was probably just playing it cool because his parents were standing right behind him.\nSo, the search continues. \nAnd the search ends. Here comes our man wearing a shirt that reads: "College is one big party with a $50,000 cover charge." Get ready for a crazy story. One that will probably involve a goat, a Frisbee and a lot of cottage cheese.\n"This shirt's actually kind of a joke," says junior Dan Tritch. "I don't party at all."\nFor the past two years, Tritch has been out of town for the Little 500 weekend.\n"My parents went here," he says. "They loved the weekend. They screamed at me for being gone the past two years."\nWell, what do students do during Little 500 weekend? \n"I have four tests next week," says freshman Ashley Oreck.\n"I've got a lot going on as far as school goes," says freshman Maggie Dimatteo. \nEureka! Perhaps it's the "World's Greatest College Weekend" because they will be, gulp, studying?\nDiane Dallis, department head for the Information Commons Undergraduate Library Services says she doesn't notice much of a change at the Herman B Wells Library for Little 500 compared to other weekends. \n"Last year we were busy that whole weekend and we didn't have anything out of the ordinary happen," she says. "People don't tend to bring it anywhere near us."\nIf "it" exists. \n"I think what you'll find is a lot of students find enjoyment working with their colleagues and attaining their goals," she says. "They probably have time to include some of the fun stuff, but it is that time of year where it's make it or break it."\nDallis sent an e-mail trying to prove her point. During Little 500 weekend last year, undergraduate students checked out 1,036 items from the Herman B Wells Library, only slightly less than the three-day average for the entire month of April. \nShe even included log-in statistics from the Information Commons. In 2004, 80 less students logged into an IC computer during Little 500 weekend than the week before the race. In 2005 that number was 1,321. \n"I hope this helps make the point that more than drinking goes on during Little 500 weekend," she says.\nThe IC is a place where students can come and work together, she says, allowing them to be social and get their schoolwork done at the same time. She suggests it as a place students could spend time at during Little 500 weekend, but she didn't "want to say what they should or shouldn't do." \nNow that makes sense. But perhaps the weekend won its name because of the race itself. \nLittle 500 race coordinator Lucas Calhoun says whatever students do throughout the weekend it should include a trip to the track. \n"The reason there are so many social events that weekend is because of the bike race," he says. "It is a campus tradition. The weather is good, school's almost out, there's no other sport going on. It's a great way to cap off the school year."\nPlus, "the race is fun to watch," he says.\nThe race will have speed and crashes; so, it's everything that comes with drinking except for the hangover and the possible arrests.\nMaybe those college kids from earlier have some crazy plans this year. And, seriously, it had better involve at least three blow-up dolls and some peanut butter.\n"I don't have any tests this year, but I have a bunch of friends that are coming down," Timberlake says. "We're just going to hang out. The weather's so nice we're probably just like sit out on a porch and chill and drink."\nBut what about the race?\n"It's one of those things I feel like I have to go to, and I don't know anybody," Timberlake says. "I know girls in the women's race, but I don't know anybody in the men's."\nShe says she went to the race her freshman year and "it was just a bunch of bikes riding in circles."\nTritch says he plans to go to the race and cheer for team Marshall. Unfortunately, team Marshall is not riding in the race. \nSenior Meredith Suma is planning a maritime adventure.\n"On Friday we're gonna get a bunch of people on pontoon boats and put some kegs on it," she says.\nNow there's some semi-craziness. \nWith four tests, Oreck says she plans on going out this weekend.\nDiMatteo, who lives in a sorority, says there are lots of events at her house, including bowling and themed parties. \nFrom the bars to the Greek houses to the library to the race, there are plenty of events going on this weekend for people of all ages, even a high school senior. \n"Sounds good," Knapp says.