After Dickinson students, including two members of the baseball team, destroyed four sculptures during the Carlisle Ice Art Fest last year, the team guarded this year’s sculptures over the weekend of Feb. 3 to 5. They worked in collaboration with the Dickinson Department of Public Safety (DPS) and Carlisle Police as an attempt to reconnect with the Carlisle community. 

Team captain Derek Smith ’23 spoke with The Dickinsonian about the decision to  volunteer at the ice festival. Head Coach Craig Harrison reached out to the team after he heard that DPS was looking for students who wanted to volunteer. Smith said, “it was a great opportunity to give back to the Carlisle community and make amends after what happened last year.”

To guard the sculptures, the team divided itself into four groups composed of members from all four class years. Each group was in charge of one shift that lasted approximately 90 minutes, starting at 9 PM and ending at 12 PM on Friday night then again on Saturday. 

Smith said the response from the team was extremely positive. Even incoming first years who were not on campus last spring when the sculptures were damaged accepted the invitation to volunteer.

Besides guarding the sculptures, the players also walked around and talked to local business owners and other members of the community. Smith said, “Overall it was a great experience.” He recalled the crowds around Molly Pitcher Brewing Company, which was considered to be the most dangerous zone due to its proximity to the Dickinson Campus.

With baseball season starting soon, Smith recognized the importance of these types of team bonding activities. He said, “the team welcomed the opportunity. It felt more like giving back to the community rather than a punishment for what happened last year.” He also added that the outcome was extremely favorable, and that the team is looking forward to making more of a positive impact not only within the Dickinson community but also with the town.

Smith was hesitant to say that the baseball team will make this an annual tradition. Although he considered it an overall positive experience, DPS received some calls for disturbances even with the student patrols. Still, Smith believes that the team would be more than willing to help if the opportunity arises again and make this “a baseball tradition for years to come.”