Traditions that Started Before or in 1980 and Still Practiced – Carleton’s Traditions over the Decades

Winter Carnival

This is a long standing tradition dating back to the 1930s. It has fallen off a little bit in the recent years, but there were significant revitalization attempts in 2021, when ice sculptures were featured at Sayles during midterm weekend! This carnival tended to include ice skating, sculpture carving, a chili cookout, and human bowling.…

Farmstock

This is an acoustic music festival held every year towards the end of the spring trimester featuring student bands. It started out in 1979 as a giant picnic sponsored by the Folk Music Society, but has morphed and is now held as a performance with anyone able to perform. It is usually held at the…

Opening Convocation

This is the first convocation ceremony of the year and occurs on the first day of the academic year. During this ceremony, the dean’s list is announced, honors students are recognized and school year updates are given. A guest speaker then gives a convocation address. This tradition began in 1978, but was predated by mandatory…

Synchrony

Both a dance performance and one of the first student-run dance groups at Carleton, Synchrony II’s forebear Ebony II was a dance troupe of Black students founded by Debra McCray, who first performed as part of Black History Month in 1973 (Synchrony II 2016). Over the following decades, Ebony II expanded its scope and membership,…

Bubble Brigade

This tradition started as a joke in 1970. In this tradition, the senior class blows bubbles down at the faculty members as they enter the chapel. The faculty members were expected to be dressed in full academic regalia as this happened at the presidential inauguration. Since then, it has become a tradition as a way…

Rottblat

Rottblat was started in 1964 as a men’s intramural softball league. The tradition, started in 1967, calls for a softball game with the number of innings equal to how long Carleton has existed (well over 100) to be played once during spring term. The game must begin at sunrise in order to be able to…

Schiller Bust

The Schiller Bust is a plaster bust of a German poet. This bust was being held in Scoville Library reading room until 1957 when classes began in that building. That year, Bruce Herrick found the statue abandoned in a storage room and took it with him to use as a room decoration. The statue was…

Carleton/ St. Olaf Goat

This tradition was started around 1913, when St. Olaf students brought this model of a goat labeled “Carls” to a basketball game as a result of the rivalry between Carleton and St. Olaf. The two teams treat the goat as a trophy to be kept with the team that wins both of the men’s basketball…

Broomball

Intramural broomball is a winter-time tradition at Carleton. It is similar to hockey but brooms are used instead of sticks, balls instead of pucks and it’s played only on shoes. This game is open to people of all skill levels who want to have fun and enjoy some friendly competition. Here’s a fun video introducing…

Senior Day

Senior Day has grown to become Senior Week, a week long celebration for members of the Senior Class. This event usually lasts from the last day of finals to commencement and is filled with events hosted by Carleton for the graduating class. Every year, it coincides with Reunion celebrations which also happens at the end…

Category: Traditions that Started Before or in 1980 and Still Practiced