University of Southern California - El Rodeo Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

Page 21 text:

.1 Y iv YS 'YW Lrli 'f,.:T i ' i Y - v. ai A L., -,., ' ' . is . , m - . I PM ' I ff' - x ,. . H -'A f ilu V P T :ki t V I .5 .. ' ' 'X'-fi. r E ' yf 2 . . - - L L - -, 3, 5-' Q ' . 45 Q Y, s .-.rp .e 1-LI i ., 5-' 'f Ffx , t, t D- it . -- V, .-, .4-4.-. -psi'-'. years of disciplining, the latter in a desperate at- Une who has tempt to get even with the l,'rofs. never seen the Faculty play can scarcely realize what a formidable foe the Seniors haveg for equipped with ily-paper to catch the llies, coops to hold the fouls and automobiles to carry the players from base to base, the Faculty has been known to put np a brilliant game. Tradition not only controls interclass etiquette, but also sets the fashions of the campus. ln ac- cordance with its dictates the Seniors early in the year appear at chapel in caps and gowns, and some time later, reserving' their somber regalia for special occasions, they don the sombrero. This is the sig'- nal for the other classes to display distinctive hats and caps, which, in their gay colors contrast sharply with the more modest Senior apparel. 1'll'CCCliClll. has assigned class hats to the juniors and caps to the Sophomores and Freshmen. The men of the Senior and junior classes enjoy also the sole right to wear corduroys, and the duck pond could tell many a tale of the sad fate of corduroyed under- classmen. As the year draws to its close and the days of college life are carefully numbered by the Seniors, the influence of tradition is felt more than ever. Ever to be thanked is the class that established the precedent of Sneak Day for Seniors, when they declare their independence by leaving books and classes behind and betaking themselves to the beach or mountains for a day of merry-making. Of course me miss them, especially when we see those 20 '

Page 20 text:

4,4 A A a 1 ! lx -:--,W - 'quiz 6' s V 'V 'w 1' W : 5: i ' 1 1 , as ' ' A , . I V Q 1 .,,. . 'Q .Q . ,M ru filfyj 'Q '- V-. ir f t.-I ' f If - K i- ' W ' 1 k '-f-:un . ,J- to be sure-yet it is an experience far dearer to the Freshman heart than any class-room honor could be. Tradition places next in the college year inter- class football games. Not only do the Freshmen and Sophomores engage in this strenuous sort of contest, but even the two upper classes forget the dignity of their positions and meet in open combat on Bovard field. The struggle between the under- classmen however is by far the more important, for its result is regarded as a fair indication of where the honors will rest throughout the year. This year for the first time a debate was introduced into the program of underclass contests, a prece- dent which bids fair to be followed 'by future classes. The willing rivals find that college cus- tom offers other opportunities too for matching their strength, and with irrepressible spirit they continue to divide honors. It is said that some years ago a similar spirit of rivalry found its way into the ranks of our Faculty, who, deeming it beneath their dignity to strive with one another, undertook to give vent to their surplus energy in a baseball game with the Seniors, the most harmless looking of the classes from the stand- point of athletics. So every year the Faculty and Seniors try their hands at baseball: the former in the hope of administering the Final touch to four 'iv 19

Page 22 text:

,ft fmsrm W7 ffz 5 A it ,f -f T -X i N t fl ' 5 ' S' ii' ,y O ,V .yy M. 'I J, 1- -l rows of vacant seats in chapelg but no one be- grudges them their final frolie. 'They are soon forced to realize that their happy comradeship must be speedily brought to a close, when the time for the last chapel exercises comes. lt has long been the custom for this service to be conducted by the Seniors, and at no other time do college as- sociations seem dearer. In no other day does tradition center so much interest as in Ivy Day. Then are gathered up the threads of tradition that run back through the his- tory of our University and are symbolized by the the time-honored relics used in the ceremonies of the day. The planting of the ivy by the Seniors is the most significant feature. The ground is, broken with a shovel that was bought by the class of '04, Each class that uses this shovel carves its numerals on the handle and hands it down to the incoming Senior class. After the ivy is planted Juniors and Seniors join in smoking the pipe of peace, a custom which also was instituted by the class of '04, Wlieii all class rivalry is thus laid aside, the Seniors formally in- trust the relics that have been handed down from year to year, to the succeeding class. Among these, besides the shovel and the pipe of peace, is the Mystery Bag, a bequest of the class of '06, which contains mysterious gifts from the class of '07 and ,08. So the legacy increases each year. But the legacies of the Senior classes include more than mere trifles to be valued chiefly for the memories connected with them. The custom of presenting a class gift to the University originated with the class of '06, The first gift was a valuable painting by Prof. XV. T... Judson. The next class - ..- ,, v - Zl - -