Traditions
Of Daisies and Ducks and Things…
Like in families, traditions at college create powerful bonds
through shared memories and experiences. Life at Cottey is rich
with traditions - some fun, some whimsical, some poignant. Maybe
that's why our alumnae stay so connected to each other and to
us.
The great thing about Cottey traditions is that you can pick and
choose the ones that are meaningful to you. You're not forced to
participate, but we're betting you'll find at least one that you'll
want to be part of.
The College sponsors a number of events annually that build
camaraderie, recognize excellence and service, and celebrate
achievement.
Formal Traditions
The College sponsors a number of events annually that build
camaraderie, recognize excellence and service, and celebrate
achievement. Learn more
The Cottey Book
At the beginning of the school year, new students sign the
Cottey book to reflect their commitment to personal and academic
honesty; you'll see names in there from as far back as 1935.
Meet the Suites
Incoming freshmen have the chance to meet the seniors in the
various suites at this event.
Founder's Day
The whole Cottey community welcomes alumnae back to campus.
Formal Drawing
At the beginning of fall semester each freshman is chosen at
random (or by legacy) to become a member of the Alphan, Delphian,
Emerson, or Magnoperian societies. Back in the day, the societies
were book clubs that discussed great works of literature. Today,
the societies coordinate campus events and service projects.
Family Weekend
In early October, family members are invited for a weekend of
special activities.
Campus Work Day
A day in the spring set aside to revitalize the campus.
Zeran Award
The Margaret Fritchler Zeran medal is presented annually to the
graduating senior judged by vote of the faculty to demonstrate
nearest the ideal level of intellect and spirituality, and to have
exerted the most positive influence on her peers. The medal is
presented at the Honors and Awards Convocation preceding Capping
and Commencement so the award-winner can wear the medal during
those ceremonies.
Hawaiian Leis
Two Hawaiian leis are presented each year by P.E.O. Chapter C,
Honolulu, Hawaii. at the Honors and Awards Convocation on
Commencement Weekend and are worn at Capping and Commencement. The
first lei is presented to the graduate with the highest scholastic
average. The second lei is presented to the graduate considered by
vote of the faculty to be outstanding in the areas of leadership,
student government, and academic, social, and community affairs and
who best exemplifies the spirit and ideals of Cottey College.
Capping
On the evening before commencement, each graduating senior is
"capped" with her mortarboard in a special ceremony by two or three
women she has chosen also dressed in white who are special to
her.
Commencement
The capstone of your senior year. On the Sunday following spring
final exams, seniors dressed in all white caps and gowns, carrying
daisies (check out daisies below to see why) proceed to the
Hinkhouse Center for a special ceremony.
Cottey Daisies
The daisy holds a special place in Cottey's history. It was the
flower the first young women to attend Virginia Alice Cottey
Stockard's college voted to represent them both in the college's
colors yellow and white and as its official flower. That flower and
those colors are still part of Cottey's tradition today. You'll
encounter the daisy as a recurring theme throughout your Cottey
experience. Stop and smell
Most notable of these appearances is the Daisy Chain. As part of
the Commencement procession, freshman all dressed in white form two
lines that start at the front door of the Hinkhouse Center and
extend up the sidewalk. Seniors in their white caps and gowns
carrying daisies, form a procession with faculty and administrative
staff. The procession marches along the "senior sidewalks" in front
of the Chapel and Austin Street, toward the Library and then moves
through the "Daisy Chain" of freshmen into Hinkhouse Center.
Following the ceremony, freshmen pick up the daisies the seniors
were carrying and once again form the "Daisy Chain" through which
new graduates exit.
Watch Out for Ducks
Legend has it that years ago when the College was first founded,
some senior girls came upon a duck stuck in a frozen pond near the
campus. The seniors rescued the duck, and the duck became the
official mascot of the Cottey senior class. Fast forward a few
decades to now and you'll see ducks - mostly the yellow kind you
find in your tub - have proliferated on Cottey's campus. You'll see
them in faculty and staff offices, and around all the student
living areas. There are two particular traditions inspired by the
duck. Quack, quack
The Duck Game
We're not going to give too much away on this one as it's part
of an ongoing competition between Cottey freshmen and seniors.
Suffice it to say you'll know when the game starts, the rules and
details of the game are clearly presented, participation is
optional, and the outcome is totally fun.
Duck Jackets
Again, we're not going to give too much away about how these
jackets are created or what happens with them as that's part of
their mystique and a special ritual for seniors. What we can say is
that these jackets get to be pretty elaborate (see the photo
gallery), and they're worn by seniors during certain
traditions.
Class Traditions
Each class at Cottey has a number of special traditions. Whether
you're a freshman or a senior, you'll have the chance to get
involved and represent your class proudly. See
here
Baby Blue
Adopted by the freshman class as its color. First-year students
will wear baby blue articles of clothing and accessories to signify
their allegiance.
CSC
Senior class emblem imprinted on sweatshirts and items passed
down from class to class. FYI, at Cottey, the second-year students
are called seniors because in the early years, the College had
grade school and high school programs. The students in the junior
college were called juniors and seniors. In 1967, many years after
the grade school and high school were closed, the juniors became
freshmen.
fcc
Freshman class emblem imprinted on sweatshirts and other
items.
fcc Days
Kind of a welcome to freshman who are treated to a serenade and
other activities.
SPUH (S.P.)
Shorthand for secret pal. In each hall seniors draw a freshman's
name. Then, like secret Santa, your secret pal leaves friendly and
encouraging notes using a code name they've selected i.e. Peanut
Butter and Jelly or Gumby and Pokey. It's up to the senior to
decide at which point in the year she will reveal her identity.
Quad-C Week
Acronym for "Cottey College Community Chest," a week of fun
activities organized by Rotaract (a campus organization affiliated
with Rotary International) to raise money for selected
charities.
Song & Dance
Maybe it's the place, maybe it's the experience, maybe it's the
fact that we love to have fun. Whatever it is, we like to burst
into song and dance and occasional other theatrics. More
Dottey Cottey
Dottey Cottey goes back to 1940 when Doris Kingsbury Gayzagian,
Class of 1942, created the character to illustrate a typical Cottey
student in the student newspaper. From that time onward Dottey took
on a life of her own, appearing in publications, calendars, note
cards. She was incarnated into a doll, and her likeness even
appeared on lapel pins. Today seniors dress up as Dottey to emulate
their version of the old-fashioned Cottey ideal.
Emanon
Emanon is a nightclub-style senior class fund-raiser complete
with skits, spoofs of campus happenings, and songs. One thing's for
sure…you are bound to laugh.
Serenades
Come evening, don't be surprised to hear a group of seniors
break out into song in front of a group of freshmen, or to see
freshmen singing to seniors. Serenades are a loved tradition at
Cottey and can either bring you to tears or make you burst out
laughing, either way you'll love the experience.
Step Sing
This is where freshmen are let into some of the senior class'
secrets. They get to hear the senior songs for the first time,
learn more about the senior class mascot (the aforementioned duck)
and get a look at those duck jackets.
Food Traditions
We've said it before, food is an important part of Cottey life
and part of the way we celebrate too. There are a number of
traditions tied to food. Curious?
Funeral Dinner
The seniors keep the details of this tradition pretty close to
their vests. Let's just say it marks the official close to the Duck
Game for the academic year.
Presidents' Dinner
A passing of the torch (usually a flower or other memento) from
outgoing class and organization presidents to their successors.
Saturday Night Suppers
Held usually during Founder's Weekend or by special arrangement,
Saturday Night Suppers are Cottey's version of The Sing-Off where
students sit with their classmates in the dining room and sing
class songs back and forth.
Sit-Down Dinners
Sit-down dinners in Raney Dining Room are served occasionally.
All the students enter the dining room together and are seated.
Then a family style meal is served. This recalls the early years of
the College when all meals were served this way.
Centennial Room Dinner
Every other year, each suite is treated to a special semiformal
dinner in the the Centennial Room.
Yellow and White Dinner
On the Friday night of Commencement Weekend, seniors are honored
by the freshmen during this dinner. Parents of the graduating women
are invited to attend.
Holiday Traditions
As you might expect, holiday seasons are a special time at
Cottey in particular, Halloween and Christmas are memorable on
campus. Boo
Halloween
Each hall has its own Halloween tradition - a scavenger hunt or
haunted house -organized by the hall officers. Halloween might also
be your best chance to see Vera, Cottey's official ghost. In 1920,
when Cottey had a high school for women, high school senior Vera
Alice Neitzert died tragically on May 17 of severe burns received
when her nightgown caught fire while she and friends were making
candy in a chafing dish in a suite sitting room in Main Hall. Fifty
years later the legend of Vera the ghost took hold when students
practicing piano in Rosemary Hall heard strange noises. Even though
Rosemary Hall has since been torn down, the fire occurred in Main
Hall and Vera died in the hospital in Nevada. The legend of her
ghost still remains.
Tearing of the Square
During the days leading up to finals and winter break, students
will gather in the parlor of their respective residence halls each
evening to count down the days until winter break begins.
Surprise
Suprise is a Christmas tradition that is planned by seniors for
freshmen.
Hanging of the Greens
In early December, students mark the coming holidays with a
weekend of activities that start with a chapel service and the
hanging of wreaths decorated by various student organizations. As
each wreath is hung at a building students sing carols. When the
final building is adorned, everyone heads to the President's House
for snacks and warm drinks. On Saturday of the Hanging of the
Greens weekend, the party gets in to full swing with an awesome
buffet dinner that's followed by a formal dance. The greens hang
through finals.
