Vassar Traditions
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Vassar Traditions
In her inaugural speech, president Sarah Gibson Blanding (1946-1964) observed that one time-honored Vassar tradition is "the tradition of changing with the changing times."
Very few of the original college traditions are still practiced today, and none are practiced in the same manner. Founder's Day, for example, the oldest Vassar tradition, was first celebrated in April of 1866, the spring of the college's first year. Planned as a surprise birthday party for Matthew Vassar, it "began with the escorting of the pleasantly surprised Matthew Vassar through a line of handkerchief waving girls to Main parlor where speeches expressing everyone's gratitude were given," according to an unsigned article in The Vassar Chronicle in 1956. After Vassar's death, in 1868, and for years to follow, the tone of Founder's Day events was "both gay and solemn," beginning with a chapel service and a trip to the Founder's grave in the morning, followed by various poetry recitations, lectures, and musical performances in the afternoon and a cotillion in the evening. A century later the event has morphed into what we call Founder's Day today—a Saturday celebration, on the weekend closest to Vassar's birthday (April 29), which kicks off with a toast in the brewer's memory, and then quickly escalates into an afternoon of full-blown revelry, with carnival rides, cotton candy, lots of beer—in 1992, on the bicentenary of his birth, the beer was brewed from a recipe similar to his own—and concludes with fireworks..
Other notable traditions that have their origins in 19th-century Vassar and are still upheld in some way, shape, or form include the Daisy Chain, the Class Tree, Trig Ceremonies, Salve Night, Dome parties, and Serenading—a descendant of 'step-singing,' where, starting early in the twentieth century, the classes would salute each other in song from the steps of their residences.
Some traditions have become legends—the Lantern Festival, the Senior Parlor, trips to Lake Mohonk and Slabsides, boat rides on the Hudson, the Hall plays, Class Day, and Sporting the Oak. Some of these are still listed in the current Student Handbook, even though nobody at Vassar does them. "Dear Robert Lewis Stevenson," said the 2004-05 handbook, is "the traditional way of remembering the quad dorms by first letters—Davison, Raymond, Lathrop, and Strong." Current Vassar students seem to have no difficulty remembering the names of the quad dorms, so this "tradition" has fallen into disuse. Likewise, has anyone on campus witnessed something called "Sporting the Oak"?
Certain traditions are more recent, such as "Tea in the Rose Parlor," which sounds delightfully Victorian, but isn't—having descended, sometime in the 1970's from "Faculty Tea," which was served in the Faculty Parlor in Main until the advent of departmental lounges. And then there's "Primal Scream," which sounds exactly like what it is.
Traditions serve a purpose. They strengthen the ties between members of the group, whether the group is the Vassar class of 1933, or the post-WWII generation, or the tens of thousands of living alumnae/i. Whether a particular tradition survives and thrives is always up to whoever comes next. "A tradition is not something you just repeat by rote," said president Henry Noble MacCracken, "but something you re-interpret, giving new patterns, new meanings, new beauties within the old framework. You can have fun and dignity too."
Sources
The Vassar Chronicle, "Flourishing For Founder Takes Fluctuating Forms," May 5, 1956
Student Handbook, Vassar College
JV 2007
Class Trees
Each class chooses or plants a tree on campus to become its class tree. In the spring a plaque is placed on the ground nearby and occasionally a party for the class is held. Specially chosen class trees dot the campus.
College Colors
Rose and gray. The colors symbolize the college's unique founding mission: "The rose of sunlight breaking through the gray of women's intellectual life," as one student wrote home in 1870. In the college's early years, students were required to wear the colors on public occasions. Today, a variety of rose and gray hues represent the college colors.
Convocation
Twice a year, in the fall and spring, the college community gathers in the chapel to hear from the president of the college, the president of the Vassar Student Association, and a special speaker who is usually a member of the faculty. The faculty and seniors dress in their academic robes. The fall convocation is the official opening of the academic year at Vassar. Following Fall Convocation a photograph is taken of the Freshman Class and following Spring Convocation the Senior Class is photographed.
Daisy Chain
The most famous of the Vassar traditions. A chain of daisies and laurel is carried at commencement by a group of sophomore women (the seniors' sister class) who are chosen by the senior class council. A group of sophomore men are chosen as well, to usher at graduation. Daisy Chain members and ushers assist the senior class in activities during commencement week and with arrangements for the senior prom.
Dear Robert Lewis Stevenson
The traditional way of remembering the quad dorms by first letters: Davison, Raymond, Lathrop, and Strong.
Founder's Day
This is the day each spring when the college celebrates Matthew Vassar's (our founder) birthday with a Saturday of carnival rides, live music, and fireworks. It's the oldest tradition and started with a surprise birthday party for MV on April 29, 1866.
Matriculation
A new student officially becomes a member of the student body when he or she pledges to uphold the standards of Vassar College by signing the Book of Matriculation at freshman registration.
Primal Scream
Primal Scream is the ghostly sound of hundreds of voices screaming in unison in the Quad at midnight on the eve of final exams. The Scream now unofficially marks the beginning of exam week.
Salve Night
Traditionally, the Wednesday of the last week of spring classes. At this time all juniors become seniors, and the new officers of the student government take office. The afternoon and evening are filled with much festivity and noise, as tradition indicates that all juniors must ring the bell on the roof of Main Building in order to become seniors.
Serenading
The upperclassmen's special welcome to the incoming class. Marching behind banners, the members of the upper classes serenade the new students in each house with their class songs. The first-year students in each house respond with a song composed for the occasion. The event climaxes when all classes and each house sing their songs for a group of administrators, and the senior class officers selects the winner.
Sporting the Oak
Considered very discourteous to disregard, this "Do Not Disturb" sign refers to either frantic cramming or ultimate despair, and indicates the occupant of the room does not wish to be disturbed. The phrase originated at Oxford where a closed oak door (sporting the oak) meant the occupant was to be left alone.
Tea in the Rose Parlor
One of the newest traditions at Vassar. According to College Historian Elizabeth Adams Daniels '41, the custom started in the mid-1970s after dining moved from the dorms to ACDC. It does have its roots, however, in a custom of daily tea for faculty (no longer served), which started in 1925, and in the coffee served in the parlors after dinner. Tea is served every weekday at 3:00 p.m.
Vassar Devil
A rich ice cream and cake concoction which is a traditional specialty of the college. No one should graduate without having one of these.
