This short-lived Carleton tradition was started in 2006 by student environmental groups (Students Organized for the Protection of the Environment, MPIRG, and later, Sustainability Assistants) to raise awareness about energy consumption on campus. Carleton students were inspired after attending student conference and hearing about a similar competition held at Oberlin College (Caffrey 2007). Different dorms…
Hazing
Until around 1960, hazing was quite common at Carleton. Upperclassmen would throw freshman into the air (Bouncing Day), put men in dresses and engage in a practice called “paddling.” The picture above shows a hazing event from around 1920, where new Carleton students push peanuts with their noses while older students encouragingly hit them with…
May Fete
May Fete (also spelled “Mai Fête”), a multi-day celebration held during Spring term on May Fete Island in Lyman Lakes, has historically been an important way for seniors to celebrate their graduation and to spend time together during their last trimester at Carleton. This tradition began in 1907 and was last practiced in its original…
Bouncing Day
Bouncing Day started at Carleton around 1877. It is hard to tell when it actually began but this is the first time that we found it referenced within the Carleton College Archives. In this annual event, many of the new freshman male students were thrown in the air by the older students. This tradition was…
