Alumni and current members of Tufts Mountain Club (TMC) gathered Friday night at the 51 Winthrop Street Function Hall to celebrate its 75th anniversary with a barn-style contra dance.
As part of the celebration, alumni were invited to stay in the Loj, the club's New Hampshire retreat, over the weekend, according to TMC Vice President and junior Emily Melick. The event was an opportunity for both alumni and current students to celebrate their time in TMC.
Melick, along with TMC President and senior Julia Ouimet, explained the importance of the anniversary and the club's identity on campus.
"The anniversary is celebrating all that TMC has given us and all that we have given TMC," Melick said. "It's about the longevity of the club ... and bringing back members from the past who have given us so much and have created TMC as it is now."
After doors opened at 5 p.m., Edward Warren (LA '08) began the event with a few words about TMC's progress over the years and congratulated the group on its success.
Ouimet explained that 75 years ago, the club started as a small, exclusive group of friends that enjoyed organizing outdoor trips over the weekend. During his time at Tufts, Warren expanded the organization and made it into the campus-wide group it is today.
In the past four years, Ouimet said, membership to TMC has increased by about 400 people, with around 700 members in total. The group has also become one of the most notable outdoor clubs in the Boston area.
"We've become a very big presence on campus," Ouimet said.
Prior to the event, Ouimet said she expected 100 people, including 30 or 40 alumni, to attend the anniversary party.
Melick believes that one of the reasons for the group's success and high rate of participation is the club's free spirit.
"You build your [Tufts community] as you will, and I think TMC is a big part of people's experience here," she said.
Ouimet said that a number of TMC's old traditions continue to this day. These include Newcomers' Weekend, held in September to welcome new members, as well as Pass the Torch Weekend, held in January when the new club leaders must take over responsibility for the Loj. TMC also celebrates Loj Thanksgiving, a February event that began in 1962 after the original Loj burned down.
According to Ouimet, the club hosts a wide range of outdoor activities under the motto "Go outside."
"The things you go through outside are ... unique," Melick said. "There is something about this that lets us all let go a little bit. It reminds us that we can let go and think outside of the box and enjoy the beautiful trees."
Melick hopes that students view TMC as a welcoming organization.
"The vibe we try to present is as genuine as possible and hopefully shows how much joy we derive from the club," she said. "We want to share this with anyone we can, whether they are old faces or new."
