MU
traditions — and oddities
Story and photos by
Emily Schmidt, posted Nov. 7, 2007
MU
is a unique campus, full of secrets and traditions. Here are
some tidbits that may be the keys to help solve those secrets
and explain the traditions.
In sports
The University’s colors of black and gold didn’t
originate from the Tiger mascot. Instead, the mascot concept
originated from the Civil War era.
Back in the times
of the Civil War, “home guards” were formed for
protection from guerilla attacks of neighboring cities. Columbia’s
home guard was called “The Missouri Tigers.” After
the organized football team was created, the athletic committee
took the nickname “Tiger” to recognize Columbia’s
home guard.
Some students had
no idea how MU decided its colors or mascot.
“I guess
I never really thought about it,” said Dawn Michaels,
a freshman majoring in biological sciences. “I thought
the colors came from the tiger, but I think it is interesting
to know that it has a historical background.”
MU began the homecoming
tradition in 1911. MU football coach Chester Brewer invited
alumni to “come home” for the annual football
game against KU. MU still has the largest homecoming in the
nation. The annual events include Greek activities, campus
decorations, parade, blood drive and talent competition.
 |
Windows in downtown businesses are painted to welcome back alumni during Homecoming Week at MU. |
The “M”
made of stones in the north end zone at Memorial Stadium was
actually created by MU students after a defeat of KU in 1927.
In the 1950s before an MU-Nebraska game, Nebraska fans changed
to the “M” to an “N.” It was successfully
changed back before the game. Now, the freshman class does
upkeep on the “M.”
In the first few
football games after the establishment of the team:
Mascot
Originally, the school had two Tiger mascots.
Deb Snellen, president
of Mizzou Alumni Association from 2003-2004 and a 1979 graduate
of MU, had the honor as serving as one of the tigers in the
late 1970s.
“We were called the Big Tiger and the Lil’ Tiger,”
Snellen said. “I was the Lil’ Tiger. That was
my best memory at Mizzou.”
Five years after
Snellen graduated from MU, a name contest was held to rename
the Big Tiger. The new mascot’s name was to become the
one and only mascot for MU, therefore retiring Lil’
Tiger. In 1986, Truman the Tiger became the official MU mascot.
Named after Harry S Truman, the 33rd president of the United
States from Independence, Mo., Truman the Tiger has continued
to influence student academics and athletics.
Peace Park
A myth once said, if you walk across the bridge in Peace Park
with your significant other, you are meant to fall in love
and get married.
Engineering Shamrock
Near the Engineering Building East, by Lafferre Hall, there
is a patio that has an embedded green and white stone shamrock.
According to legend, you are meant to marry an engineer if
you walk across this stone.
Memorial Union
Memorial Union isn’t called Memorial Union for nothing!
The Union is meant to be a respected pathway.
“It is a
tradition at MU to show your respect as you pass through the
Memorial Union archway,” according to the MU Web site.
“People speak in hushed tones and men remove or tip
their hats as a sign of respect to those University of Missouri
alumni who lost their lives in service to their country.”
 |
Students walk through the Memorial Union archway every day often not realizing that it was built as a memorial to MU alumni who lost their lives in service to their country. |
The Union is a
highly utilized pathway for students. Some are unaware of
the reason it was built, but others find its importance respectable.
“I think
it’s important that students know where we came from
in a historical sense,” said Leslie Waldschmidt, a freshman
majoring in animal sciences. “A lot of students wear
the Union shirts, and I think that is educating students about
the importance of the Union.”
David R. Francis
Quadrangle
David R. Francis, a chief supporter of the University and
a former governor of Missouri, has a statue in his memory
near the northeast entrance to Jesse Hall. It’s said
that upon rubbing his nose, a student will ace his or her
next exam. Not surprisingly, the nose has needed several replacements
throughout its lifetime!
 |
One of the most recognized landmarks on the MU campus, the Francis Quadrangle, was named after former Missouri governor David R. Francis. |
“Up until
the end of World War II, there were rules about which students
could walk on the Quad,” according to the MU Web site.
“Freshmen were required to wear beanies and were not
allowed on the Quad. If a student wearing a beanie was caught
on the Quad, the seniors would grab their paddles and form
paddle lines.”
If the 105-foot
dome was removed from the top of Jesse Hall, one could see
that the dome is taller than the building of Jesse itself!
“The treasured MU columns were almost lost when the
rubble was being cleared from an 1892 fire. They were saved
by the president of the Board of Curators who uttered the
words ‘Let the columns stand. Let them stand for a thousand
years,’” according to the MU Web site.
 |
 |
Standing as regal reminders of a proud past, the columns, which are located just south of Jesse Hall, left, are a favorite spot for current students to study and relax.
|
The columns are
all that remain of the original Academic Hall, which burned
in January 1892. The columns were once thought to be unsafe,
but through student, faulty and alumni will, they are still
here. The Tiger Walk and Tiger Prowl raise awareness about
the columns.
The Tiger Walk
has traditionally been taken by all freshmen since 1995. It
symbolizes their entrance to MU as they walk through the columns
toward Jesse Hall.
Tiger Prowl is
the opposite of the Tiger Walk. It’s the corresponding
event for seniors before graduation. Their walk through the
columns doesn’t signify them leaving the University;
it signifies their relationship to MU as alumni.
Switzler Hall
Switzler Hall is the oldest building on campus that holds
classes. Its bell in the bell tower once rang to begin the
class day and to end the class day, but because of class scheduling
today, it no longer does so. Now it only rings on Tap Day
or to honor the death of a member of the MU family.
 |
The belfry of Switzler Hall. |
Tap Day is a ceremonial
day held in the spring that recognizes students, faculty and
staff who have made a lasting impression on the University.
One of the highest honors available through the University
is to be inducted in one of the six secret societies.
Snellen was one
of the few recognized on Tap Day. Snellen received an “honor
tap” as an alumna.
“To think
that the students who make this University what it is today
would consider me worthy of this honor is humbling and an
incredible feeling,” Snellen said. “There are
so many traditions at Mizzou and certainly Tap Day is one
of the most important. I can finally say that I was part of
another proud tradition of Mizzou.”
Switzler Hall’s
bell tower was important to students in many respects. Whether
to recognize their accomplishments through “Tap Day”
or serve as an architectural joke, Switzler Hall offered both
options.
“The Switzler
Hall bell has been the focus of many student pranks through
the years including stealing the bell's clapper and placing
a cow in the belfry!” according to the MU Web site.
Journalism School
MU’s J-School was the first journalism school, and has
kept its reputation as the top journalism school ever since.
 |
The Journalism School archway. |
Rumor has it that
several decades ago two students were talking about methods
in which they had cheated on their exams under the J-School
archway. The dean’s
office was above the archway at that time, and upon hearing the news, the
dean failed both students. Because of this “incident,” students have learned to speak in a whisper in the archway
or possibly fail their next exam.
The MU Underworld
It’s not a myth! There is an MU underworld. There are
miles of tunnels that run underground to serve as passageways
so maintenance personnel can easily check for problems with
steam, water or other utilities without digging. These tunnels
are for authorized personnel only; however, there are other
tunnels in several parts of campus that students are permitted
to use daily. The tunnels under Laws Hall are frequently used
as pathways to get to other dorms or the cafeteria.
Truman the Tiger,
MU athletics, the rock “M,” Jesse Hall, the columns
as well as other campus monuments create a solid sense of
school spirit that is present in alumni and current students.
“Mizzou has
come so far since I was a student here: the quality of the
instruction, the extent of research occurring on campus, the
caliber of the student at Mizzou, the aesthetic beauty of
the campus,” Snellen said. “And rightfully so
– we are the flagship campus of our University.”
