Author: Nicole Svonavec GEd ‘09
Every college student takes part in traditions on their campus as part of a unifying undergraduate experience. I’ve attended and worked at several colleges so far, and Penn’s traditions stand out for their uniqueness, mass appeal, and staying power. Experiences like Hey Day, Spring Fling, and taking a photo with your boo at the LOVE statue, have stood the test of time. Creative Class Boards, Penn Traditions students, and other student leaders are forming new traditions (shout out to Holifest!) every year.
On the other hand, some traditions have faded into history. And let’s be real, I’m feeling okay about that. While I love reminiscing with our Old Guard alumni about retired traditions from their Penn days, I see a few good reasons to keep these in the archives:
“The Bowl Fight”
Although these strapping young lads look quite happy in the photo (from 1905), The Bowl Fight stands as one of Penn’s most historic, but also most sketchy traditions. I’m not sure which one of these students was elected to be shoved INSIDE that bowl by his peers, but I would cry seeing our fabulous freshmen and sophomore duking-it-out on College Green in present-day. Final verdict: This tradition is one of Penn’s best (craziest) stories, but a happily retired one.
Photo courtesy of Collections of the University Archives and Records Center
“The Poster Fight”
(Note how many of these old traditions include the word “fight.” Thankfully the advent of Pottruck Gymnasium seems to have given students a more productive outlet for their pent-up energy). 1905 was a busy year for traditions, and The Poster Fight stands as another fine example of class rivalries at their best/most intense. The poster below (located in Sweeten Alumni House – come visit!) shows how “no blow was too low” when asserting your eminence over other classes. Hopefully they all hugged it out at the end of the day.
“Kissing the Boot”
Everyone loves a good freshman rite-of-passage, but the 1940s-50s tradition of kissing Ben Franklin’s boot outside of Weightman Hall strikes me as a bit unsanitary. Good thing freshman carried this out in early fall, because kissing a metal boot in the winter seems like it could cause the same nightmare as getting your tongue stuck to the flagpole in elementary school (Note: this did NOT happen to me, whew).
Photo and facts courtesy of Collections of the University Archives and Records Center
The Penn Traditions program is currently working on a new event (to launch in fall 2014) aiming to teach current students about some of these hilarious/spirited/dangerous traditions of the past. If you took part in a really fun tradition on campus during your time at Penn, email svonavec@upenn.edu so we can include it in our event!
*Thanks to the Penn Archives and Under the Button for inspiring this post!
Frankly Penn 