Brace yourselves, it's Dartmouth Weekend.

In anticipation, University officials yesterday tightened campus security as students welcomed Dartmouth visitors and prepared for a round of weekend festivities.

"We've posted University police on a round-the-clock guard of the statue," Archie C. Epps III, dean of students, said, referring to the John Harvard monument which Dartmouth fraternity seniors painted Big Green on Wednesday. He added that workmen wasted no time in cleaning up the statue early Thursday morning.

"We've always been on our guard during Dartmouth weekend," Epps said, adding that the weekend conjures up for him "images of students descending upon us from the wilds of wherever they're from, emerging from the MBTA, and singing songs in front of John Harvard"-- generally "lacking in civilization." However, he said that he "expects responsibility of Harvard students" in keeping their guests under control.

University police Chief Saul L. Chafin said he was not particularly anxious about the weekend. Although he plans to bring in a "greater amount of personnel," he said that, to him, "It's just another football weekend."

"When Crimson and Green clash, the Green is bound to prevail," a recently arrived Dartmouth student said. He added that he felt Dartmouth had "a tremendous amount of school spirit," and estimated that over 85 per cent of the student body is making the trip to Cambridge this weekend.

Another Dartmouth student, a freshman, said she anticipated some more pranks this weekend, such as an attempt to repaint the statue. But she added that the highlight of the weekend for her will be during the actual game.