Rod Library---Special Collections
UNI Freshman Traditions
Introduction
One of the most memorable experiences for many young adults in the
past, as well as today, is leaving home for the first time and
moving to college. As freshmen, students must learn new rules,
meet new friends, and adjust to a different way of life. The
artifacts and photographs in this display show some of the
activities and traditions of the freshman year at UNI.
These incoming State College of Iowa freshmen pose for the
camera during summer orientation and registration around 1965.
UNI was
named the Iowa State Normal School from 1876-1909; the Iowa
State Teachers college from 1909-1962; the State College of
Iowa from 1962-1967; and UNI from 1967 to the present.
Learning About Campus Life
Handbooks
Student handbooks contain a great deal of useful information for the
incoming freshman, such as a calendar of events, a description of the campus, a list and description of organizations, and many rules and regulations.
In an attempt to help students understand that they were in new surroundings, one early handbook stated that high school emblems could not be worn on
campus.
Branches of student government also prepared and distributed guidebooks aimed at particular segments of the campus population. They contain much of the same information found in the student handbooks, but they get into other matters as well. Campus Life, distributed by the Women's League in 1939, outlines the rules for freshman probation, a tradition on campus for many years.
Men's Union prepared a similar booklet in 1956.
Campiquette (1938) and Good Form are etiquette and social usage handbooks.
These books include rules and recommendations about dating; going
to parties, receptions, and class; and appropriate attire. One rule
about public places states that "it is not considered good form
for a couple to walk arm in arm" except where the terrain is bad.
Rules and More Rules
Freshmen had to learn many new rules after
arriving on campus. Many of the rules referred to freshman
probation. This probation period extended anywhere from one
month to one year. It was a time for the upperclassmen to orient
freshmen to campus life, whether it was through hazing or through organized
activities that allowed the green students to get to know one another.
Freshman probation changed over time. An important part of the tradition
began on March 21, 1923, when freshman men were required to wear
green beanies and women green armbands. Letters standing for
the students' areas of study were printed on the green attire.
Freshmen had to wear the caps and armbands from 7:00 AM until 6:00
PM every day, except Sunday, and they could not be found
without them. As the student newspaper, the Normal Eyte, stated, any
freshman violating this rule "will be subject to any penalty the
upper classmen decide to inflict."
The following list includes rules from a variety of sources from
the 1920s through the 1950s.
Rules for Freshmen:
- All freshman men must sit in a section reserved for
them at football games and must be on time.
- Freshmen may not use the diagonal walk from the
Auditorium (Lang Hall) to the corner of College Street and 23rd
Street.
- All freshmen must address upperclassmen as "Mr." or
"Miss".
- Freshmen using the reading room of the library must sit in
the center section of the room, not the corners.
- Freshmen must dance every dance at the Monday night Rec
Dances.
- Freshmen must wear their caps and armbands from 7:00 AM
to 6:00 PM, Monday through Saturday. They must be worn in
Cedar Falls at all times except Sundays, inside buildings (for
caps), and to dances.
The length of freshman probation varied through the years.
First, they were to wear the attire for only four weeks; later,
they had to wear the articles until homecoming or Thanksgiving.
At one time the students wore the caps and other prescribed attire all year long,
except during the winter months.
After a few years, male students no longer had to wear green
caps. Instead, only the women wore distinguishing garb. In
addition to the original armbands, women also wore other variations including buttons, turbans, handkerchiefs, green caps, and purple caps to
identify themselves as freshmen. This photo is of freshmen in
their caps at the annual watermelon feast.
One penalty upperclassmen inflicted upon freshmen was tossing
them into Prexy's Pond.
Prexy's Pond was located east of
Russell Hall, where the Business Building is currently located. This
photograph shows students jumping into the pond during a spring
celebration in 1957.
Before 1952, men were dunked in the
pond, allowed to take a hot shower, and then treated to
refreshments in Stadium Hall, where most male, first year
students lived at that time.
Placement Tests
Freshmen were once required to take placement tests before or
during their first semester on campus. The tests were used to
determine the students' abilities and were not considered in the
admissions process. These students are testing in the East
Gymnasium in 1948.
Freshman Week
Freshman Week was a time for orientation of new students.
This program outlined the events for this week.
Registration and Orientation
This syllabus for freshman orientation was created by the
Women's League in 1938.
It is a detailed plan for orienting new
students, women in particular, to campus life.
Here students are registering for classes during orientation in 1956.
Long before the days of computerization, students registered using
cards such as this one from 1925.
Entertainment
Another event during freshman week was the watermelon feast.
Here four women enjoy the fresh watermelon.
Note that each
head is adorned with a cap.
Watermelon Feast
Freshmen entertained faculty and upperclassmen at the annual
Frosh Night. Here one student performs at the 1956 orientation talent show.
These students are all heading to the freshman Chuck Wagon
Picnic.
This annual picnic for women was held on
the old UNI golf course on the southeast corner of University and Main. Instead of a picnic, the men attended a
dinner in the Commons.
The End of Freshman Probation
De-capping Ceremony
The highlight of the freshman's first semester (or year as was
sometimes the case) was the de-capping ceremony. At this light-
hearted ceremony the students were allowed finally to discard
their beanies. This photograph shows women preparing to
remove their caps.
Following one ceremony in 1953, women built a bonfire and unceremoniously burned their beanies.
These two students are poised to toss their multicolored beanies in 1956.
Freshman Record
Most of the old-time freshman traditions ended long ago, but at least one new tradition has been established. Freshmen today have the opportunity to
mail their senior pictures to UNI to be published in the
Freshman Record. Along with the photo, a student's name, hometown,
major, and favorite hobbies are listed.
Exhibit prepared by Susan Witthoft; Web version prepared by Gerald L. Peterson
Special Collections and University Archives
November, December, 1996
Navigation Aids
Copyright © 1996 University of Northern Iowa, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.
Rod Library Special Collections and University Archives
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613-3675
Telephone: (319)-273-6307
Fax: (319)-273-2913
Email: Gerald.Peterson@uni.edu
http://www.library.uni.edu/speccoll/ex2.html
Initially placed on Web: December 6, 1996 (GP)
Last modified: September 5, 2001 (GP)