The Guide: Learning your legacy
Since the University of Nevada, Reno was founded in 1874, the students started rituals to give it an identity. Here’s a few traditions that define various campuses rich with history that help students have a memorable experience.
Painting the “N”
The “N” on Peavine Hill was a tradition begun in the early 1920s. Though university officials used to require students to do it (freshman males who didn’t participate could risk being “swatted” by upperclassmen in front of the rest of the school), students have only painted the “N” sporadically over the last few years.
A quick look at other schools’ traditions
University of Southern California/University of California-Los Angeles
Similar to the Nevada-UNLV Fremont Cannon, the Victory Bell is the trophy for the crosstown rivals. The tradition began in 1942. The winners
of the annual football contest – often the last of the regular season – keeps the bell for the next year. The winner then paints it the school’s color: cardinal red for USC and baby blue for UCLA.
University of Maryland
Testudo the Turtle is the main statue on the University of Maryland, akin to the John Mackay statue at UNR. The statue was built in 1933, and since the early 1990s, students have left Testudo offerings – from food and soda to cigarettes and coins – so Testudo will bring them luck during final exams.
Rice University
Beer-Bike has been a Rice University tradition since 1957. Combining an intramural bicycle race with a drinking competition, teams from the different colleges within the university each bike a relay race while other members of the team chug beer (or water if they are underage). Prior to the race, there’s a water balloon fight.
Texas A&M
Texas A&M Aggies receive their Aggie Rings, which first originated with the class of 1889. The current design was created by E.C. Jonas. The ring worn by all Aggie graduates is the same except for the class year. The design of the ring represents the Aggie traditions.
Ohio State
The Ohio State University Marching Band is a longstanding tradition at Ohio State. The marching band is the largest all-brass and percussion band in the world. The traditional school songs from “Carmen Ohio” to “Hang on Sloopy” to “Fight the Team Across the Field” are arranged to fit the instrumentation. The band is famous for “Script Ohio,” during which the band marches single-file through the curves of the word “Ohio” while playing the French march “Le Regiment de Sambre et Meuse.” At the end of the performance, the “i” in “Ohio” is “dotted” by a high-stepping senior sousaphone player.
University of Florida
Florida students put a boat in the middle of the Lake Osceola. The students blow up the boat. Tradition says that if the mast hits the water, they will win the game.
This tradition came about when the Canes played Navy in their Homecoming game, and to signify Navy’s looming defeat, UM placed a boat in the Lake and blew it up.
University of North Carolina
Every Halloween is marked by celebration in Chapel Hill. In recent years, an estimated 80,000 costumed students and onlookers have packed into a mile-long section of Franklin Street abutting campus. Students come from Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University, Duke University, Elon University and other schools in North Carolina.
Arizona State University
The Lantern Walk began in 1917 as a symbolic passing of the torch from the senior class to the junior class. Each senior was provided a paper lantern, and the class climbed to the top of the butte while the juniors followed in darkness. Each class president spoke and class songs were sung. Then the seniors passed their lanterns to the juniors and walked down the butte in darkness. Since 1990, the Lantern Walk has become a tradition on the Friday night of Homecoming weekend. Arizona State University students, alumni, faculty and staff carry lanterns to the summit of Tempe butte. In this way, they honor their alma mater, as did the class of 1917
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April 29th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
University of Florida
Florida students put a boat in the middle of the Lake Osceola. The students blow up the boat. Tradition says that if the mast hits the water, they will win the game.
This tradition came about when the Canes played Navy in their Homecoming game, and to signify Navy’s looming defeat, UM placed a boat in the Lake and blew it up.
The University of Florida and the University of Miami are two separate entities. Come on, do some research, be a journalist….and they pay you guys to do this?!?!