The "President's Ball", a recent gala organized by the college president, takes place on the first Saturday of December. Other traditions include "OWU vs. Denison", which stages a "fierce" athletic rivalry between Ohio Wesleyan and Denison University; the " Sagan Colloquium", spanning the fall semester, recently expanded to include the spring semester, which consists of speeches focusing on an issue of concern to the liberal arts; and "Orchesis", an annual celebration of modern dance and the arts, which occurs at the end of the academic year. "Fresh-X" is an optional program for newly admitted students that occurs just before orientation in which students may choose between hiking, backpacking and other outdoor activities to make friends with their new classmates.