University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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-. ' ' ' , . . I he Fountain in front of the Burton Memorial Bell Tower is the home of two traditions. As first-year stu- dents during Orientation, incoming students walked through the fountain, sym- bolic of their entrance into the University. As seniors, everyone walked through backwards, symbolic of graduation. MarkWolly (J ne of the pumas in front of the Natural His- tory Museum stares down at graduating virgins. University legend had it that if a student graduated with- out having sex, the pumas, representing grace and power, would come to life and growl as the student walked by. Seder Burns Michigan Traditions 29

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Tr le ge nrts Walking across the Diag on the way to class students had forewarning not to step on the ' M ' . Incoming students waded through the Thomas M. Cooley Fountain, Sunday Morning in Deep Water, during Orientation initiating their entrance to the University. Stu- dents streaked across campus during the Naked Mile. Whether students had or had not actually participated in any of these rituals, chances were good they had at least heard of them. From the superstition that kissing somebody under the West Engineering Arch foretold marriage, to the President of the University beginning classes every morning by spin- ning the Cube in Regents Square, the University had plenty of famed traditions. Nearly every student in Ann Arbor seemed to have his or her own opinion as to which tradition was the most meaningful. Andy Milius, SNRE junior said, The biggest tradition has to be the Naked Mile. Where else can you get naked and run? The Naked Mile had been a long-standing ritual for students at the University. On the last night of winter semester classes, students from all over campus formed a line and ran naked down South University and across the Diag. These nude marathoners also attracted sums of interested viewers and sideline catcalls. Adriana Yugovich I he Cube in Regent ' s Square is said to be the wind up key of the University. Tradition said that every morning the President started the University by spinning the Cube. by jeany dohm Shara Kruse, a sophomore kinesiology major, reported, I think the best tradition i the rule about the ' M ' in the Diag. Almost every freshman know obeys that rule. It ' s probably the most respected plac on campus. The ' M ' had a reputation of being a bad omenj rumor had it that first-year students who stepped on it would fail their first blue book exam. Therefore, some first-year student avoided this center of campus altogether. I like the meaning of walking through the fountaii your freshman and senior years, first-year psychology majo Kristina Dunigan remarked. Dunigan herself waded througrl the waters before beginning classes at the University. It ' i symbolic of eventually crossing over to graduate school. Un dergraduate students in their last year walk back through thi fountain in the opposite direction, pointing themselves towarc U-M ' s Graduate School and away from the undergraduati library. Jackie Townsend, a junior majoring in environmenta studies, thought of a different Michigan tradition. Waiting in really long lines to buj I books is definitely the most important, she commented. After all, we couldn ' t go tc class without them. U n the corner of Packard and Greenwood stands several crossing telephone wires where it is traditional for graduating seniors to throwapair of shoes. Nearer to graduation, the wires became covered in pairs of hangingshoes of all kinds, leav- ingtracesofgraduatingseniors behind. Seder Burns | he West Engineering Arch is the basis for another Uni- versity legend of love. If two students who were in love kissed under this archway at night, it was said that they would some day be married. Countless University couples tried out this super- stition. 28 Michigan Life Adrians Yugovich

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30 Michigan Life President Bollinger shares in the celebration of Michigan ' s victory over Penn State. Opening the doorsofhishome on South University, he invited in the crowds of cheering stu- dents passing out roses in honor of Michigan ' s Rose Bowl chances. Despite the early hour, students fought to gain a spot in Bellinger ' s class on the First Amendment. Lec- ture and discussion were a regular part of class and students were encouraged to visit Bollinger during office hours.