I would be surprised to hear if there was even one college or university in the United States that has no traditions. When, as a high school junior and senior, I was considering my options, I didn’t really look at traditions as one of my criteria. Somehow, I still managed to end up at the school with what I think are the greatest traditions. Last night, seniors celebrated 100th Night – an evening where seniors gather together to watch a slideshow of self-submitted photographs of their years at Hollins and drink their penultimate bottle of champagne (or sparkling cider) given to them by their older Ring siblings. The event, organized by the senior class president and the dean of students, helps many seniors to prepare for their final semester while celebrating the strong community and sisterhood they’ve helped to maintain during their time on campus.
The great thing about the many traditions of Hollins University is that each of them not only help booster community, but celebrates it. Once everyone is back on campus for the school year in the fall, Hollins kicks the year off with Opening Convocation, during which students are recognized for their achievements and are encouraged by various members of the community including President Nancy Gray and the Student Government Association president. Immediately following this inspiring welcome back, seniors line up around Front Quad and make use of their cider bottles for First Step. Up until senior year, students are not allowed to step on Front Quad. When given the signal, seniors crack open their cider bottles (the champagne for this event is for later as Virginia alcohol laws prohibit alcohol in a public space) and spray it all over the place while running around Front Quad in their self-decorated senior robes.
The next event, and arguably the most popular, is Tinker Day, which occurs sometime in October. For this tradition, seniors once again pull on their robes and run through underclassmen buildings banging pots and pans at six in the morning to wake everyone up. Then, all head over to the dining hall for Krispy Kreme doughnuts and singing. At nine o’clock, everyone heads to Front Quad for President Gray to officially proclaim Tinker Day. Classes are canceled for the day and students climb Tinker Mountain in crazy outfits. Often, to encourage each other through the strenuous hike, students sing more songs. “I’ll Make a Man out of You” from Mulan is always a favorite. At the top of the mountain, each class year sings songs to each other. Then we head down the path for fried chicken, Tinker cake, and skits.
Ring Night, which occurs in early November, puts juniors to the test. Seniors secretly select juniors to be their little siblings. For a weekend, juniors, with the assistance of sophomores and first years who agree to be helpers, perform outlandish demands for their senior sibling(s). This may include dressing like a cat and hanging out on Front Quad, performing their favorite song in front of the whole dining hall, and responding to shout-outs, where a senior calls out a specific phrase and a junior is expected to respond with something equally specific. At the end of the weekend, juniors perform final skits and the senior siblings reveal themselves with a basket of goodies (often including decorated wine glasses, picture frames, and other items) and all of the champagne (in decorated bottles) their junior sibling will need in their senior year for First Step, Ring Night, 100th Night, and Graduation.
Each of these traditions, and the many others that I’ve omitted, work to bring the campus population together. While I’m biased and believe that Hollins has the best traditions, it’s important to look at traditions at any school you’re considering when you’re in high school. Often, the effects of these traditions are reflected in the general community.