The canes will be distributed at Commencement to graduates and to honorary-degree recipients from the College. Cane distribution was a 19th-century tradition that was reinstalled last year.
The Social Council planned a number of promotions and giveaways, also funded by the anonymous donor, to bring students to the game. Every attendant received a complementary raffle ticket.
The donor purchased flat screen televisions, DVD players, digital cameras, Xbox video game systems, $20 movie passes and $75 gift certificates to Carmelina's at the Commons and La Cucina di Pinocchio in Amherst, all of which were raffled off at the game, according to a press release on the men's hockey website.
"The donor was really generous," said Lauren Wong '04, a member of the Social Council who helped coordinate the raffle and other promotions. "This was a great way to get people to the game. It helped get school spirit going."
Men's hockey coach Jack Arena '83 was pleased with the additional attendance. "[A]nything that encourages students to support their peers in extracurricular pursuits I think is terrific," he said. "There has been a steady erosion of student support at all athletic events and anything that can help change that is a positive move."
Andre Deckrow '06 is the member of the Friends of the Library committee who is in charge of obtaining funding and ordering the canes. He created a display which detailed the history of the cane tradition in order to teach those in attendance at the game about the cane project.
"The canes are a tradition that the Friends of the Library feel should continue," said Deckrow. "We are very fortunate to have this anonymous donor come through with funding. We are very grateful."
During the 19th century, class canes were customarily distributed to sophomores at the College, allowing students to distinguish themselves as upperclassmen.
Ben Baum '03, Jose Abad '03 and Ciona van Dijk '03 reinstated the distribution of class canes last year, modifying the tradition so the canes are distributed during senior year at Commencement rather than during sophomore year. Baum said that that class canes, which the library funded last year, represent the accumulated academic, extracurricular and social experience students have at the College.
Each year, the logo on the canes will differ, although the logo will always consist of an "A" and a "C."
"We like to take it from a document that's historical," Deckrow explained. "This year it comes from a late 19th century theater program logo."
Baum is confident that the cane tradition was worth reviving. "I'd like to thank the donor very much and promise him or her that this is a worthy investment," he said.