Freshman Traditions

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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.

SCI — 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.

Student Handbook 1935-36 — Citation: Student Handbook, 1935, in the Student Guides and Handbooks collection, Box 1, 1935-1936 17/00/01 Box 1 Folder 7, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Student Handbook 1955 — Citation: Student Handbook, 1955, in the Student Guides and Handbooks collection, Box 3, 1955-1956, 1956-1957 177/00/01 Box 3 Folder 5, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

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.

Ctation: Campus Life, 1939, in the Women's League collection, 17/02/02, Box 1, Student Handbooks, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Men's Union prepared a similar booklet in 1956.

Citation: Information for You, 1956, in the Men's Union collection, Box 1, Handbooks 1955-8, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Campiquette (1938) and Good Form are etiquette and social usage handbooks.

Citation: Good Form at Teachers College, undated, in the Student Guides and Handbooks collection, Box 3, "Good Form at Teacher's College" Handbook 17/00/01 Box 3 Folder 7, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

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.

Watermelon feast — 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.

Citation: Students jumping into Prexy's Pond, 1957, The Old Gold yearbook collection, 17/01/02/03, Box 51, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

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.

Citation: Syllabus for Freshman Orientation Week, 1938, in the Women's League collection, 17/02/02 Box 1, Syllabus for Freshman Orientation Work, Iowa State Teachers College, Women's League, 1938-1939, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

It is a detailed plan for orienting new students, women in particular, to campus life.

Class registration — Citation: Student registration, undated, in the University of Northern Iowa Photograph Collection, ACT Box 15, ACT 9.03 Orientation & Registration - Registration - Gilchrist Hall Box 15 Folder 1, #23, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Long before the days of computerization, students registered using cards such as this one from 1925.

Citation: Class Card, 1925, in the Irene M. Sidey collection, 19/94 Box 1, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

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.

Citation: Student performing, 1957, The Old Gold yearbook collection, 17/01/02/03, Box 51, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

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.

Freshman Record

Most of the old-time freshman traditions ended long ago, but at least one new tradition had been established, despite being short lived. Freshmen from 1983 to 1999 had 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. For more information on the Freshman Record, visit SC&UA's Freshman Record, 1983-1999.

The Record — Citation: Freshman Record, 1992, in the Student Admissions Ambassadors Collection, 03/09/03, Box 3, 1992, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Citation: Freshman Record, 1983, in the Student Admissions Ambassadors Collection, 03/09/03, Box 2, 1983, University Archives, Rod Library, University of Northern Iowa.

Exhibit prepared by Susan Witthoft; Web version prepared by Gerald L. Peterson. Special Collections and University Archives; November, December, 1996; updated May 2020; photos updated and citations added by Graduate Assistant Eileen Gavin, May 15, 2025