Tradition in the 21st Century

As the class of 2014 arrives on the UNC campus, their traditions, I hope, will evolve with the leaders of their class. Of course, that's how most traditions take hold. Someone has an idea and acts on it. It might be solemn or it might be silly. If a tradition catches on and students embrace the idea of remembering their days on campus, passing the basic business of education, then there's a hook to hang your beanie on.

Freshman Beanies bit the dust over forty years ago. Kids today may be too sophisticated to bend that way ever again. Or, some bluenose may have decided it smacks of hazing!

Actually, the Freshman Handbook, that held the basic Rules of the Road for incoming students, was loaded with not only helpful facts, but recounted the history of the university. Freshmen were required to learn those facts and any upperclassman could quiz them on the information. It was a 'medium' of exchange that may have smacked a little of 'hazing' but it was a way for new students to be welcomed by students who had to learn the information when they were Freshmen. It was just a way to meet and greet in a good natured way.

In 1959 (God.. that seems like yesterday and at once a very long time ago) I was elected Vice President of the Freshman Class and loved bonding with the other kids who were immediately identifiable because of our beanies. Vicky Meyers was our Freshman Class secretary and seeing this bright young woman in a beanie was a major treat. Find the Cache La Poudre for 1960 and you'll see what I mean. We were all pretty cute, actually.

I wax nostalgic again. The halcyon days ... more innocent that this 21st Century, remain warm and truly wonderful to me. We were never made to bow down to Totem Teddy, but we knew his history and there was a certain pride in the image of the Bear Totem that appeared on ID cards and elsewhere.

These days I don't see much tradition. The UNC band, of course, is a unit that literally plays together. Playing, I think, passes the obvious and maybe it's the band that will rise to the idea that a rally point for tradition is a good one. I met some of the UNC band members a couple of years ago and their obvious joy in their music was wonderful.

So.. the school year begins. No beanies. No Freshman Handbook. No Bear Totem. No Homecoming Parade?? (I don't know about Homecoming these days? Do the Greeks decorate their houses? Make floats for the parade?) Is there anything that helps to bond the new kids with the returning students? How are they welcomed?

Finally, on point. I've been in touch with Dr. Andrew Svedlow, Dean of the UNC college of Performing and Visual Arts, as well Arts professor Lydia Ruyle regarding th Bear Totem and am learning lessons from them. What will it take to get the university on board? More support and open arms. Thanks to Lydia and Dr. Svedlow, as well as Dr. David Grapes and Mike Johnson, VP of Alumni Affairs.

Here's to the Class of 2014. Your graduation will herald the centennial of the arrival of the Bear Totem on Campus. That's something!

Michael Sheehan