University community develops new traditions as old fade

"The Keeper of Princetoniana," Fred Fox '39, described Princeton traditions as a "river."

"Although the course stays the same, the water is always new," Fox said.

Fox believed that "traditions have to keep growing, and they have to keep fresh." In keeping with this, many Princeton traditions have evolved over the years.

Canespree is one tradition that is now quite different from its original character.

Dating back to the 1870s, Canespree began as a freshman-sophomore fight over the right to walk around campus with canes, something forbidden to freshmen at the time.

Sandi Maxwell '39 remembers how violent Canespree was when he was a student.

He said that freshmen would rush up a hill that the sophomores were standing on and fight each other until one side was defeated.

"Everyone's clothes got torn off their back," Maxwell added.

After the Second World War, the Department of Athletics took over the event and turned it into a more organized, athletic competition between the two classes.

With that change, Canespree's traditional importance appears to have slowly faded away.

While members of the Class of 1970, such as Edward Labowitz, still brag about winning Canespree two years in a row, present students lack enthusiasm for the event.

"Many students are unaware of the event's history," said Liz Greenberg '02, who wrote her senior thesis on Princeton traditions.

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Greenberg said she believes that if the University were to help students understand the event's history, Canespree would resume its position as a beloved tradition on campus.

Another tradition that has changed over the years is the step sing.

Bud Wynne '39 remembers how seniors would frequently gather after dinner on Nassau Hall's steps and sing together.

"Step sings used to be a random event," Greenberg said.

With the growth of a cappella and other musical groups on campus, these impromptu step sings have stopped.

However, seniors still take part in the traditional step sing during graduation weekend.

And as Princetonians did many years ago, seniors still finish with a traditional singing of "Old Nassau."

While these two traditions have evolved, other traditions have been lost — or stopped — completely.

Since 1864, students used to try to steal the bell clapper from Nassau Hall. Over time, this tradition evolved into a freshman class responsibility.

The idea behind this tradition was that if the bell clapper was gone, the bell couldn't ring and 8:30 a.m. classes would be canceled, Wynne said.

Gregg Lange '70 said he vivdly remembers when his classmates climbed Nassau Hall to steal the bell clapper.

But on April 19, 1992, Geoffrey Macarthur '95 fell three and a half stories from the top of Nassau Hall in attempt to steal the clapper. He fortunately only received a lung contusion, the Daily Princetonian reported.

The University subsequently removed the clapper, officially ending that tradition.

Poler's Recess is another lost tradition.

In the early 20th century, students would go to their windows at 9 p.m. and scream to relieve stress during exam periods.

Despite a meager attempt to revive this tradition with the "Holder Howl," Poler's Recess no longer takes place.

Fearing the loss of more traditions, Wynne convinced the University's Alumni Council to form the Princetoniana Committee in Fox's honor after his death in 1981.

Fox's classmate Maxwell remembered him as a "fantastic man, like nobody I've ever met in my whole life."

He was "a cross between a curator, a ringmaster and a storyteller," President Emeritus William Bowen '58 said at Fox's memorial service.

Fox has been a symbol of Princeton traditions for almost 70 years.

He served as the University's second recording secretary in 1964, and taught freshmen the words to "Old Nassau" at the beginning of each school year.

According to its website, the Princetoniana Committee was established "for the purposes of preservation, appreciation and dissemination of the campus traditions, artifacts and lore."

The committee organizes tours of campus for incoming freshman and works with Orange Key tour guides to preserve Princetoniana, committee chair Donald Marsden '64 said.

Tour guide Kim Mattson '05 tries to use her tours to "keep the stories of traditions alive even if they are no longer performed."

"It gives us a connection to the tradition and history of the University as a whole," Mattson said.

But even as certain traditions fade away, new ones are being born.

Jadwin Jungle — the men's basketball team's student fan club — has the potential to become a new Princeton tradition.

The Pre-rade, in which the Class of 2008 marched in through Fitz-Randolph Gate in September, may become a longstanding tradition as well, Greenberg said. It was modeled after the famous P-rade that takes place during Reunions.

J.T. Miller '71, photo editor for the book "Princeton University: The First 250 Years," called the P-rade "a parade of life."

The P-rade is Labowitz's favorite tradition as well.

"You can see the entire history of the University walk in front you," Labowitz said.

Both the P-rade and Reunions have maintained their role as two essential Princeton traditions.

As Princeton becomes more diverse, Miller thinks this longevity is increasingly important.

"Traditions make you realize that you are part of a long continuum of human beings," Miller said. "Traditions bind Princetonians together as a community."