So, what’s with the green Dot?

A once foreign thing to many camels, “Green Dot” has become a well-known and widely used phrase across campus. The only NESCAC School to have a Green Dot program, the movement began with the Office of Sexual Violence Prevention and Advocacy lead by director Darcie Folsom. Green Dot became powerful on Conn campus months after its debut when the men’s ice hockey team decided that Green Dot was something they were going to stand behind.
Starting three years ago, the hockey team’s ability to bring hundreds of students to a game became an effective means to carry an impactful message: Green Dot. Transforming over the years since the original game, Darcie’s partnership with the men’s ice hockey team created now extends into men’s soccer and women’s lacrosse, showing just how much can be done when a team starts playing for a cause.
The third annual Green Dot Hockey game will take place on Saturday, February 8 at 7 p.m. in Dayton Arena. They will be rivaling Tufts, another NESCAC team that has become supportive of the tradition. For the past three years on this night they’ve played Tufts, who have been inspired in their own way through their white ribbon campaign, a campaign working to end men’s violence against women.
This year will differ from the past in that the week of the game will encompass all things Green Dot. Monday will start off the week with a Facebook “storm” and tabling. Tuesday will consist of more passive campaigning leading up to trivia night with SAC at campus bar on Wednesday at 10 p.m. The following evening SAPA and Green Dot are working together to host BINGO in the 1962 room, also at 10 p.m.
After a day of passive campaigning Friday, Dayton Arena will be a sea of green on Saturday. Thunder sticks giveaways, seat cushions, huck a puck, raffles and a camel photo booth in addition to what should be a competitive game. To top it all off, through generous donations from the Class Councils of 2015 and 2017, SGA, SAC and The Office of Student Wellness, the first 300 attendees will receive a free Green Dot shirt.
The Camels have an overall record of 4-11-1 while the Tufts jumbos hold a 3-13 overall record. After a big defeat this past weekend in their game against Wesleyan there are high hopes for the Camels to win the game.
The game that was started by the seniors of the 2012 team is evolving into something bigger each and every year. One thing that has remained fairly consistent is the team’s support and dedication to the Green Dot cause. With over 440 Green Dot Graduates on campus and more to come this Sunday as the week culminates with a Green Dot training, the men’s ice hockey team has added the phrase Green Dot to our everyday Conn lingo. Their newest addition to the ice this year, a Green Dot logo on the rink all season, truly embodies how integral Green Dot has become to the team. •