Simon J. Bronner
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- March 2014
- ISBN:
- 9781617036163
- eISBN:
- 9781621036173
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University Press of Mississippi
- DOI:
- 10.14325/mississippi/9781617036163.001.0001
- Subject:
- Literature, Folk Literature
From their beginnings, campuses emerged as hotbeds of traditions and folklore. American college students inhabit a culture with its own slang, stories, humor, beliefs, rituals, and pranks. This book ...
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From their beginnings, campuses emerged as hotbeds of traditions and folklore. American college students inhabit a culture with its own slang, stories, humor, beliefs, rituals, and pranks. This book takes a long look at American campus life and how it is shaped by students and at the same time shapes the values of all who pass through it. The archetypes of absent-minded profs, fumbling jocks, and curve-setting dweebs are the stuff of legend and humor, along with the all-nighters, tailgating parties, and initiations that mark campus tradition—and student identities. The book traces historical changes in the distinctive traditions embraced by undergraduates. The predominant context has shifted from what it calls the “old-time college,” small in size and strong in its sense of community, to mass society’s “mega-university,” a behemoth that extends beyond any campus to multiple branches and offshoots throughout a state, region, and sometimes the globe. One might assume that the mega-university has dissolved collegiate traditions and displaced the old-time college, but the book finds the opposite. Student needs for social belonging in large universities and a fear of losing personal control have given rise to distinctive forms of lore and a striving for retaining the pastoral “campus feel” of the old-time college. The folkloric material students spout, and sprout, in response to these needs is varied.Less
From their beginnings, campuses emerged as hotbeds of traditions and folklore. American college students inhabit a culture with its own slang, stories, humor, beliefs, rituals, and pranks. This book takes a long look at American campus life and how it is shaped by students and at the same time shapes the values of all who pass through it. The archetypes of absent-minded profs, fumbling jocks, and curve-setting dweebs are the stuff of legend and humor, along with the all-nighters, tailgating parties, and initiations that mark campus tradition—and student identities. The book traces historical changes in the distinctive traditions embraced by undergraduates. The predominant context has shifted from what it calls the “old-time college,” small in size and strong in its sense of community, to mass society’s “mega-university,” a behemoth that extends beyond any campus to multiple branches and offshoots throughout a state, region, and sometimes the globe. One might assume that the mega-university has dissolved collegiate traditions and displaced the old-time college, but the book finds the opposite. Student needs for social belonging in large universities and a fear of losing personal control have given rise to distinctive forms of lore and a striving for retaining the pastoral “campus feel” of the old-time college. The folkloric material students spout, and sprout, in response to these needs is varied.
Simon J. Bronner
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- March 2014
- ISBN:
- 9781617036163
- eISBN:
- 9781621036173
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Mississippi
- DOI:
- 10.14325/mississippi/9781617036163.003.0004
- Subject:
- Literature, Folk Literature
The college campus can be a rude awakening for freshmen, who are probably made to feel like mere babes as they try to endure rituals and pranks that are part of the campus tradition. As they make the ...
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The college campus can be a rude awakening for freshmen, who are probably made to feel like mere babes as they try to endure rituals and pranks that are part of the campus tradition. As they make the transition—and transformation—in the old-time college, the newbies are separated and humiliated before gaining passage to the higher status of upperclassman. The persecution of the freshmen can be traced to the master-servant relationship established between upperclassmen and first-year students, who were perceived as “novice apprentices” in early American colleges. The freshmen could vindicate themselves by beating the sophomores in a roughhouse competition known as scraps or rushes. Rushes have become rarer, although they still exist in tamer forms in some modern campuses. Another festive campus event is the tug-of-war, which is more often associated in the mega-university with fraternity and sorority competition than interclass contests. College students can also make their presence felt on campus by using their artistic abilities.Less
The college campus can be a rude awakening for freshmen, who are probably made to feel like mere babes as they try to endure rituals and pranks that are part of the campus tradition. As they make the transition—and transformation—in the old-time college, the newbies are separated and humiliated before gaining passage to the higher status of upperclassman. The persecution of the freshmen can be traced to the master-servant relationship established between upperclassmen and first-year students, who were perceived as “novice apprentices” in early American colleges. The freshmen could vindicate themselves by beating the sophomores in a roughhouse competition known as scraps or rushes. Rushes have become rarer, although they still exist in tamer forms in some modern campuses. Another festive campus event is the tug-of-war, which is more often associated in the mega-university with fraternity and sorority competition than interclass contests. College students can also make their presence felt on campus by using their artistic abilities.
Simon J. Bronner
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- March 2014
- ISBN:
- 9781617036163
- eISBN:
- 9781621036173
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Mississippi
- DOI:
- 10.14325/mississippi/9781617036163.003.0005
- Subject:
- Literature, Folk Literature
One way for college students to show their loyalty to their alma mater is through the “college spirit.” Many students and alumni consider college spirit to be more than cheering on their institution; ...
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One way for college students to show their loyalty to their alma mater is through the “college spirit.” Many students and alumni consider college spirit to be more than cheering on their institution; it is also a means to express their fondness for one another living in community that is the campus. As part of the campus tradition, college spirit is evident in homecoming celebrations, fight songs and alma mater songs, and sports. Spirit is also evident in collegians’ self-deprecation and certainly in organized stunts intended to quash the spirits of rival institutions. Indeed, college spirit is driven by loyalty and rivalry, but it also gives many students in the mega-university a sense of social belonging. Whereas spirit in the old-time college arose spontaneously on campus, it was institutionalized by many universities with the organization of student “spirit clubs.”Less
One way for college students to show their loyalty to their alma mater is through the “college spirit.” Many students and alumni consider college spirit to be more than cheering on their institution; it is also a means to express their fondness for one another living in community that is the campus. As part of the campus tradition, college spirit is evident in homecoming celebrations, fight songs and alma mater songs, and sports. Spirit is also evident in collegians’ self-deprecation and certainly in organized stunts intended to quash the spirits of rival institutions. Indeed, college spirit is driven by loyalty and rivalry, but it also gives many students in the mega-university a sense of social belonging. Whereas spirit in the old-time college arose spontaneously on campus, it was institutionalized by many universities with the organization of student “spirit clubs.”
Simon J. Bronner
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- March 2014
- ISBN:
- 9781617036163
- eISBN:
- 9781621036173
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Mississippi
- DOI:
- 10.14325/mississippi/9781617036163.003.0006
- Subject:
- Literature, Folk Literature
As they pursue learning away from home, family, and friends, college students are left on their own. Naturally, students seek other young, kindred spirits. College campuses promote social bonding, ...
More
As they pursue learning away from home, family, and friends, college students are left on their own. Naturally, students seek other young, kindred spirits. College campuses promote social bonding, cultural growth, and self-development by holding a host of events such as games, sports, rituals, and festivals. In the old-time college, students typically take charge of their festive needs as members of a select society, but those in the modern mega-university are monitored by administrators. Among the holidays and events celebrated on many campuses are the Halloween, Christmas, Founder’s Day or Charter Day, spring festivals (known as “riots,” “rites,” “flings,” “fevers,” and “storms”), ritual tree plantings, May Day, and college football. In addition, students engage in festivities by drinking alcoholic beverages, disregarding the efforts of universities to curb drinking on campus. Whereas men participate in killer games and tugs-of-war, women maintain their share of customs through artistry and creativity.Less
As they pursue learning away from home, family, and friends, college students are left on their own. Naturally, students seek other young, kindred spirits. College campuses promote social bonding, cultural growth, and self-development by holding a host of events such as games, sports, rituals, and festivals. In the old-time college, students typically take charge of their festive needs as members of a select society, but those in the modern mega-university are monitored by administrators. Among the holidays and events celebrated on many campuses are the Halloween, Christmas, Founder’s Day or Charter Day, spring festivals (known as “riots,” “rites,” “flings,” “fevers,” and “storms”), ritual tree plantings, May Day, and college football. In addition, students engage in festivities by drinking alcoholic beverages, disregarding the efforts of universities to curb drinking on campus. Whereas men participate in killer games and tugs-of-war, women maintain their share of customs through artistry and creativity.
