Le Point Gamma

Created in 1862, Point Gamma is the oldest and largest student festival in France. This gala is named after the binet of the same name, which organizes it every year in May or June. In the École Polytechnique vernacular, the word binet refers to a student association. Everything at Point Gamma—performers, communication, security—is taken care of by students. Émile Lemoine (Year of Entry: 1861) was the first to come up with and organize this celebration. He explains his thought process: "Our astronomy teacher could not go a lesson without telling us about the ‘gamma point’, which the earth passes at the spring equinox. I had read about how our ancestors celebrated this phenomenon on ancient religious holidays, so to make up for the boredom caused by the gamma point, I thought we should also celebrate this event."