7f became a tradition to be non-traditional'
By Joan Herman
Of the Emerald
Mention the 'good old days', and
alumni's thoughts turn to their college days
at the "U" and the year's big happening —
homecoming.
Many hold images of freshmen obedient
ly donning beenie caps on 13th Avenue. Of
lighting four-story bonfires on the eve of
the homecoming game in a field where the
Art Museum now stands. And of co-eds
loyally painting their school's "O" in yellow
paint on Skinner Butte — only to have the
rival Beavers erase their work with orange
paint.
Tradition was in vogue in the good old
days,' even up until the late 1960s. Then
came the Viet Nam war, and the students
said they had to attend to more important
matters than keeping wayward freshmen in
line. So students dropped traditions as en
thusiastically as their parents created them.
Ironically, "It became a tradition to be
non-traditional," says University archivist
Keith Richard.
Perhaps one of the longest living — and
interesting — homecoming traditions was
that of freshmen initiation, which occurred
during Homecoming Week. This was not an
initiation restricted to Greeks — much to
the chagrin of first-year students. All
freshmen dutifully submitted to initiation
ceremonies.
The time was pre-World War II. First-year
male students were distinguishable by
beenie caps, which had to be worn at all
times on campus. Often, they also wore
outlandish costumes to class and the soda
fountain, as ordered by their "superiors,"
the sophomores. In shackles, they shined
the school seal outside Villard Hall, then
the center of campus. The seal now rests on
the EMU breezeway. And in school-spirited
fashion, freshmen had their hair shorn in
the shape of "0"s — again, as ordered by
the sophomores.
Tradition was in vogue in the good old days, ’ even up until the late 1960's. Then came the Viet Nam war...students droped traditions as
enthusiastically as their parents created them.
and for good reason. Each Friday, rebellious
freshmen who had committed 14 "infrac
tions” in the past week had their bottoms
paddiwacked by gleeful sophomores —
usually in front of a large crowd. "Naughty"
first-year females were thrown into the
pond near Deady Hall.
Because the tradition was enforced by
sophomores, it was a "self-perpetuating
delight," Richard says. Lowly freshmen
knew their turn would come next year, so
they patiently anticipated the time when
War II. Many freshmen were worldly
veterans and refused to obey the
sophomores' commands. And so the tradi
tion died.
Just as popular, especially with freshmen,
was the bonfire tradition, which began
about 1911. Freshmen built bonfires in Kin
caid Field, where the Art Museum now
stands.
The tallest bonfire was built in 1917. It
stood four stories high and was 20 feet
<iivav> • ■ VJIIMIVM l\VVi ail • IVMIIVWIIllllg
Week to build the pile for the pyre. They
collected wood from wherever they could
find it. After Homecoming Week, "There
wasn't a piece of scrap lumber in all of the
county," Richard says. To adorn their
mountainous creation, the freshman
proudly perched a farmers stolen outhouse
atop the heap.
Day and night, they guarded their crea
tion from arson-minded sophomores, who
Continued on page 10B
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