This short-lived Carleton tradition was started in 2006 by student environmental groups (Students Organized for the Protection of the Environment, MPIRG, and later, Sustainability Assistants) to raise awareness about energy consumption on campus. Carleton students were inspired after attending student conference and hearing about a similar competition held at Oberlin College (Caffrey 2007). Different dorms would compete with each other to reduce energy consumption as much as possible compared to their 3-year average for the duration of February. The prize for the inaugural Dorm Wars? A “weiner party” with food from a local restaurant for the winning dorm (Kraus 2006)!
Over time, the ‘Dorm Wars’ transformed into ‘Green Wars.’ Although student enthusiasm waned in the early 2010s, the event translated into broader on-campus awareness of environmental issues over time. As far as we can tell, it last occurred in 2013.
Sources
Caffrey, Jane. “Dorm Wars results final; Carleton places fourth.” The Carletonian, pp. 2a of Apr 6, 2007 issue. Accessed via the Carletonian Archive March 13, 2021.
Hartley, Emily. “Fourth annual Green Wars begin, new features.” The Carletonian, pp. 1a of Feb 12, 2010 issue. Accessed via the Carletonian Archive March 13, 2021.
Kraus, Dana. “‘Dorm Wars’ highlights energy usage.” The Carletonian, pp. 7a of Jan 27, 2006 issue. Accessed via the Carletonian Archive March 13, 2021.
Wetherall, Mollie. “Annual Green Wars competition has mixed results.” The Carletonian, pp. 1a, 3a of Feb 15, 2013 issue. Accessed via the Carletonian Archive March 13, 2021.
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