Eric Metelka never made it to The Wailers’ Dillo Day concert last year.
The Weinberg sophomore got up at 8 a.m. He passed out at 3 p.m. When he woke up again at 7 p.m., he heard the Dillo Day line-up playing from the window of his Sargent Hall room, but he couldn’t motivate himself to go to the Lakefill.
This year will be different. Metelka will spend part of Dillo Day making rounds in the fraternity quads as the Interfraternity Council’s risk management chair.
“It doesn’t bring a warm smile to my face,” Metelka said of being sober all day. “But somebody has to be responsible. It can still be enjoyable while I’m sober.”
On a day known for being carefree, some Northwestern students relinquish their chance to party to look out for peers. From resident assistants to sorority presidents, they go to the Lakefill concerts, hang out in dorms and spend time with friends — sober and available in case someone should need help.
For some, it’s a significant sacrifice. For others, it’s not much different from the usual routine. Regardless, those obligated to be sober said they plan to make the best of the situation.
“At least I’ll remember everything that happened,” said Communication junior Mackenzie Horras, one of 109 RAs on duty at some point during the 36-hour Dillo Day watch. Students like Horras, a Daily staffer, help carry out what Mary Desler, dean of students, said is her staff’s mission for the day: keeping it safe.
Desler said her staff got a “wake-up call” after Dillo Day 2003, when a student hit someone with a chair he threw off the Sargent Hall roof. That year, Desler said drunk undergraduates filled one Evanston emergency room. These events inspired a task force of staff and students, from Greek system risk management chairs to leaders of Mayfest to encourage safety.
The instances of sickness and accidents dropped in 2004, Desler said. Doorhangers, mass e-mails and newspaper ads remind students to act responsibly again this year.
So will the sober and on-call students.
Horras, a first-year RA, must be sober before and during her shifts from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and 12 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday. She said she and fellow RAs ordered Dillo Day T-shirts and plan to buy food throughout the day to boost morale.
Drivers for Escort Service also get free dinner as a perk for taking the unpopular 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday night Dillo Day weekend shifts.
Last year, Escort had to hire extra drivers to cover the weekend’s shifts, said Britta McNair, Weinberg ’04 and Escort Service coordinator.
“It’s like all of campus has been invited to a party, but unfortunately everybody has a conflict all at once,” McNair said of the Dillo Day shift. “Some people just have to let the party go.”
Amanda Janulis, president of Kappa Delta sorority, has no qualms about being a contact for anyone in the house who might need her help. The Education junior remains sober for most of her chapter’s events, and this is just one more event she’ll enjoy without alcohol.
“The image of Dillo Day is bigger than it actually is sometimes,” Janulis said.
Reach Francesca Jarosz at [email protected].
