University Traditions
From GWUEncyc
Contents |
Article
The following are only a few of the many traditions at GW. If you are aware of other traditions (Main campus or GW at Mount Vernon College) that should be included please contact the University Archives at 202-994-7283.
Get into the Spirit!
Taken from the GW Website: [1] Colonials, George, Big George, Buff & Blue... how does it all fit together? - In 1904, The Columbian University became what we today know as The George Washington University. Along with the change of name, also came the change of school colors. The University colors were changed from orange and blue to buff and blue to commemorate the colors of the uniform that George Washington wore when he resigned as Commander In Chief of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783. The name "Colonials" was the mascot name that was voted in by the student body in 1928. "Colonials" continues to be the institutional mascot of The George Washington University in the year 2001.
George - Formerly referred to as "George 1", is the character mascot of George Washington. George is considered to be our #1 Colonial and also serves as the namesake mascot of GW. George can often be found at GW athletic events, making community appearances, and visiting several on-campus events to ensure that school spirit and campus unity are continuing to grow at The George Washington University.
BIG George - Although Big George is commonly mistaken as the University mascot, he is actually GW's BIGGEST sports fan. Standing at 10 feet tall, this inflatable mascot can be found at all of the men's and women's basketball games, fall and spring sports, Midnight Madness, team send-offs, pep rallies, and several GW and community events. If there is a game to played by GW athletes, Big George can be found cheering his Colonials onto victory!
GW Fight Song - Every Colonials fan knows that when the GW Fight Song is played, our school tradition is to stand up, clap your hands to the beat, and sing the words. GW fans can often be seen cheering, clapping, and even throwing their arms in the air when certain lyrics are sung. Every incoming freshman is taught the words to the GW Fight Song during their Colonial Inauguration sessions. You can even hear the university bells play our Fight Song at 12:15 pm, and 6:00 pm every day in Kogan Plaza.
GW FIGHT SONG (rewritten by Patrick M. Jones in 1990) Hail to the Buff! Hail to the Blue! Hail to the Buff and Blue! All our lives, we'll be proud to say... We hail from GW - (GO BIG BLUE!)
Oh, by George we're happy we can say, We're GW, here to show the way So, Raise high the Buff! Raise high the Blue! Loyal to GW YOU BET WE'RE Loyal to GW..........FIGHT!
Alma Mater - It is a GW tradition to hear the Colonial Brass play the school's Alma Mater at the end of every men's and women's basketball game. The GW Cheerleaders and Dance Team form a circle around the mascots at center court while singing the words.
GW Alma Mater (rewritten by Dr. George Steiner in 1970) Hail Alma Mater To thy spirit guiding, Knowledge thy closest friend In its strength abiding, Pledge we fidelity Ne'er its place resigning, Hail thee George Washington!
Start the bus!!! - There's 2 minutes left on the clock and the only thing that can save the opposing basketball team is a miracle! The GW Fans reach into their pockets, take out their keys, and start shaking them as loudly as they can. This tradition is an indicator to the opposing team and coaches that the game is over and it's time to start the bus!
Awwww, SIT DOWN! - When the 5th foul is called on an opposing basketball player, GW fans know exactly what to do! The tradition in the Smith Center is for our fans to stand up, wave their shaker towels and yell "Awwwww" for as long as it takes until the opposing player finally takes his place on the bench. At that point, you will hear all of our fans yell "SIT DOWN!".
WOOOSH!!! - It's time to shoot for two! When a GW player goes to the foul line, our GW fans are back on their feet with their arms extended above their heads quickly moving their fingers back and forth. Once our player makes the basket, the GW tradition is to drop your arms down to your sides and yell "WOOOSH!" as loud as you can.
T's for 3's - Any time a GW player makes a three-point-shot, the GW Cheerleaders run in front of the crowd and throw t-shirts out to the fans who are yelling and cheering the loudest.
Other Traditions
Arts Fest and Chalk-in This annual event, sponsored by The University Counseling Center, is held in April and is a celebration of student talent in the arts. Students dance, sing and perform while other students participate in activities such as mask and frame making, fun with Play-Doh and create your own tribal art. H Street is closed to traffic during the event so students can draw on the street and sidewalks with chalk–a great stress-reliever as exams approach!
GW Athletics
Many traditions developed surrounding GW sport teams.
Carillon: Playing the GW Fight Song and Alma Mater.
Students now enjoy the GW Fight Song via the mid-day bells.
Colonials Weekend Colonials Weekend, a celebration for students, alumni, family, and friends, is a weekend full of events and incredible performers. Past performers include the Beach Boys, Dana Carvey, Patti LaBelle, and Jon Stewart.
Commencement
The first commencement was in 1824 at Lories Meeting House, now the site of the Willard Hotel. The current commencement is held on the Ellipse, very near the first graduation.
Dances (Formal) Senior Prom
Formal Dances at GW, especially since the turn of the 20th Century, were major events at the University. The dances were held at such hotels as the Willard, and Mayflower.
Hosted by students in the Neighbors Project, the University student community comes together to host a night of dinner and dancing for local DC senior citizens.
Fall Fest and the Spring Fling
These student-run weekend events in September and April are sponsored by Program Board. Outdoor games and fun abound. Past performers include Kanye West and Maroon 5.
Films on the Vern Films on The Vern is the annual outdoor summer series of films shown on the big screen on The Quad at the Mount Vernon campus, bringing together members of the GW community and neighbors of the GW campuses for a weekly opportunity to enjoy classic film hits.
Fountain Day The Mount Vernon campus sponsors this end of the academic year celebration with lots of great food, fun amusements, tie-dye and live music by a nationally recognized act. JUMPSTART FOR A DAY At this annual community event, join the Jumpstart Program and many student organizations, fraternities, sororities, and more to play with preschool children and encourage their love of learning.
Freshman Convocation Freshman Convocation is the University’s official kick-off for new students as they begin their adventure at GW and in the nation’s capital. The Freshman Convocation at GW is an annual tradition. Join President Trachtenberg at this official start of the academic year.
George Washington's Birthday Celebration
In 1999 a new tradition began with a march to the Quad, Continental food, speeches and a bonfire.
Grad Week When you are a senior, join us for a weeklong series of special events leading up to graduation. Past events include excursions to Atlantic City, trips to a Baltimore Orioles game, the Senior Toast, and Monumental Celebration.
The Hippo
Purchased by Stephen Joel Trachtenberg in 1996, the Hippo has taken on a definitive presence at the University.
The bronze hippo, which stands proud outside of GW’s Lisner Auditorium, was a gift presented to the Class of 2000 by President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg. Legend has it that this unofficial University mascot brings luck to all who rub its nose–so don’t forget to stop by before an exam!
The Plaque: "GW's River Horse Legend has it that the Potomac was once home to these wondrous beasts. George and Martha Washington are even said to have watched them cavort in the river shallows from the porch of their beloved Mount Vernon on summer evenings. Credited with enhancing the fertility of the plantation, the Washingtons believed the hippopotamuses brought them good luck, and children on the estate often attempted to lure the creatures close enough to the shore to touch a nose for good luck. So, too, many generations of students of The George Washington University. "Art for wisdom, Science for joy, Politics for beauty, a Hippo for hope"
Homecoming
Homecoming was a popular part of the GW year until the late 1960s, when the activity was discontinued. It returned to the GW campus the weekend of January 20, 21, 1984 and continues to the present.
The Houndon Statue of George Washington
This statue, purchased in 1931, has been a feature of the campus, located in the University Yard, the Lisner Library, the Lisner Auditorium and finally back in the Quad.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Service Day, Award and Celebration Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is a nationally recognized community service event on the King Holiday. A “day on” rather than a “day off”, some 250 students serve the DC community in various projects. The MLK Award is the highest honor a student can achieve in recognition of humanitarian service. Given in January, the celebration of both Martin Luther King’s life as well as a ceremony in his honor take place in late January, around the King Holiday.
Mascot and Colors
Along with our name change to The George Washington University in 1904, the mascot and colors were also altered to commemorate George Washington. The colors were chosen to match the uniform George Washington wore as he resigned his position as Commander In Chief of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783. The original colors of the Columbian University were blue and orange. We were referred to as the "Buff and Blue" for many years. "George 1" has been GW's mascot since 1948. In 1926 we took on the name "Colonials."
Midnight Breakfast When finals arrive, it’s time for Midnight Breakfast! A GW tradition during the final exam period in the fall and spring, this is a night where faculty and administrators serve YOU breakfast at midnight as a reward for all of your hard work. It is a great stress reliever during your studying.
Mount Vernon Community Day This is a day when students and the community come together to celebrate fall by trick-or-treating in the residence halls, cheering on the Colonials Soccer team and enjoying a film in Eckles Auditorium.�
Music at GW
The GW band began in the 1920s. Vocal music at GW began in the 1890s and has gained prominence through the Glee Clubs, University Singers and Troubadours. The Music Department began in 1964.
Octoberfest Held on the Mount Vernon campus during Colonials Weekend, this annual family event features music, pumpkin carving, arts & crafts, games, tasty fall desserts, family competitions, photo-ops, contests and more.
Spirit Week and Colonials Invasion Join us for lots of special events during Spirit Week in mid October–all of which lead up to Colonials Invasion, which kicks off basketball season for GW.
Student Newspapers
The Columbian Call began publication in 1895 and continued to 1900. In 1902, the idea for a campus newspaper resurfaced. The first continuous student newspaper was called The Weekly Columbian. With the University's name change in 1904, the newspaper was renamed The University Hatchet. The Independence Magazine made its appearance as in the late 1980s. It ceased print in 1998. The GW Journal ran from 2000-2002.
University Yearbooks
Originally called The Columbiad in 1890, the yearbook became The C in 1904, The Mall in 1905, and finally the Cherry Tree in 1908.
White Coat Ceremony, School of Medicine
At the Fall medical convocation, the first year medical students are given a white coat.
Document Information
Images: 0
Photographic Credit:
Author or Source: University Archives Subject Files; Sources: GW Web Page [2], GW Hatchet
Document Location: University Archives
Date Added to Encyclopedia: January 05,2007
Prepared by: G. David Anderson, University Archivist and Historian
For more information about GW history
Contact:
Special Collections Research Center [3]
The Melvin Gelman Library [4]
The George Washington University [5]
2130 H Street, NW Suite 704
Washington, DC 20052
202-994-7549
mailto:archives@gwu.edu
Please send us your questions and comments about the encyclopedia.
This site is maintained by the Special Collections Research Center and the Web Development Group.
