Decoding Boston University: Symbols, Traditions, and Quirks
Boston University (BU), a private research university situated in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts, boasts a rich history and a vibrant campus culture steeped in unique traditions and symbols. From its humble beginnings as a Methodist seminary in Vermont to its current status as a global center for research, BU has cultivated a distinctive identity that sets it apart. Understanding these symbols and traditions offers insight into the university's evolution, values, and the experiences of its students.
From Vermont Seminary to Boston University: A Historical Overview
It might surprise some to learn that BU's story begins not in Boston, but in Newbury, Vermont, as the Newbury Biblical Institute. Founded in 1839 by a group of Boston Methodists with the aim of promoting religious education, the institute underwent several transformations before being chartered as Boston University in 1869, after three trustees successfully brought the school to Massachusetts. This move marked a significant turning point, laying the foundation for the university's growth into a comprehensive institution recognized for its diverse academic programs and research contributions. The three trustees, Isaac Rich, Lee Claflin, and Jacob Sleeper, were successful Boston businessmen and Methodist laymen, with a history of involvement in educational enterprises, and they became the founders of Boston University.
The Allure of the BU Beach
One of the first things new students learn is that the "BU Beach" is a grassy area, not a sandy shore. Although the BU Beach doesn’t have sand, it is a great place to gather with friends, do homework, and play some Frisbee. They say if you close your eyes, the BU Beach can sound like an actual beach.
The Haunted Marsh Plaza Seal
Superstition looms large on campus, particularly surrounding the Marsh Plaza Seal, or rather, the BU crest. Legend has it that if you step on this iconic symbol on Marsh Plaza before Commencement, you won’t graduate in four years. This legendary 66-year-old annual ice hockey tournament held the first two weeks of February pits four Boston-area college hockey teams against one another for a year’s worth of bragging rights: BU, BC, Northeastern, and Harvard. Despite its ominous reputation, graduating seniors often defy the curse, gathering on the seal for celebratory photos during Commencement.
The Beanpot Tournament: A Hockey Tradition
The Beanpot Tournament stands as a testament to Boston's fervent hockey culture. Every February, the Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey teams take on Northeastern, Harvard, and Boston College in a two-week tournament. This legendary annual ice hockey tournament pits four Boston-area college hockey teams against one another for a year’s worth of bragging rights: BU, BC, Northeastern, and Harvard. The university has won 30 of the 66 titles in the annual Beanpot men’s hockey tournament.
Read also: Gridiron Showdown: Missouri vs. Boston College
Lobster Night: A Culinary Celebration
Since 1985, BU has hosted an annual Lobster Night in every dining hall. Each student gets a full steamed Lobster plus all the fixings.
Marathon Monday: A City-Wide Spectacle
When April rolls around, BU students look forward to warmer weather and the Boston Marathon. Students take pictures with Boston University’s mascot Rhett and mascots of other Boston schools during Marathon Monday.
Pumpkin Drop: A Physics Department Tradition
Each October, the Physics Department launches dozens of pumpkins off the roof of the Metcalf Center for Science and Engineering.
Broomball: A Ridiculous Intramural Sport
BU’s most popular intramural sport, broomball, is one part ice hockey, one part curling, one part golf, and several thousand parts ridiculousness. If you want to get involved on campus but don’t know where to start, this is the event for you.
The Significance of Scarlet and White
The choice of scarlet and white as BU's colors is rooted in symbolism. The color scarlet was chosen to symbolize fire and blood, with white for the blending of all colors of life.
Read also: ACC Showdown: Virginia Tech Battles Boston College
The Terrier Mascot: A Symbol of Tenacity
The official Boston University mascot, the Boston Terrier, was first introduced in 1917. It was not chosen by chance. This breed of dog was bred in 1839, the year the university was founded. And until today, the image of this dog is an essential part of the Boston University Terriers logo. The athletic program consists of 14 women’s and 10 men’s athletic teams, which compete in various sports disciplines, including Basketball, Ice Hockey, Cross Country, and many others.
Mugar Memorial Library
When you hear Mugar, think books. But Mugar Memorial Library has so much more-its 2.2 million-plus items are spread out over seven floors.
George Sherman Union (GSU)
GSU is shorthand for the George Sherman Union, the focal point of activity on campus. Its Union Court features 11 restaurants, including Basho Sushi and Pinkberry.
StuVi: Student Village
Where every BU student aspires to live one day. These West Campus high-rises are renowned for their views of the Charles River.
The BU Rock: A Canvas for Greek Life
The Boston University Greek Rock-more commonly known as the BU Rock-is regularly spray painted by fraternities and sororities competing with each other to make an administration-approved mark on campus. Covered in more than 1,000 layers of spray paint, the rock has been a focal point of BU Greek Life for decades.
Read also: History of the BU Bridge
T. Anthony's Pizzeria: A Terrier Hangout
While BU’s campus offers an array of restaurant choices, many students are partial to T. Anthony’s. Established in 1976, T. Anthony’s honors its Terrier patrons by covering its walls in BU sports paraphernalia.
A Legacy of Innovation and Achievement
Throughout its history, BU has been a hub of innovation and achievement. In 1875, BU professor Alexander Graham Bell received a year’s salary advance to pursue his research. After receiving a year's salary advance to allow him to pursue his research in 1875, Alexander Graham Bell, then a professor at the school, invented the telephone in a Boston University laboratory. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received his PhD in Theology from BU in 1955. In 1877, Boston University became the first American university to award a PhD to a woman, when classics scholar Helen Magill White earned hers with a thesis on "The Greek Drama." Then in 1878 Anna Oliver became the first woman to receive a degree in theology in the United States, but the Methodist Church would not ordain her.
Transformations and Expansion
Seeking to unify a geographically scattered school and enable it to participate in the development of the city, school president Lemuel Murlin arranged that the school buy the present campus along the Charles River. In 1951, Harold C. Case became the school's fifth president and under his direction the character of the campus changed significantly, as he sought to change the school into a national research university. The campus tripled in size to 45 acres (180,000 m2), and added 68 new buildings before Case retired in 1967. The Charles River and Medical Campuses have undergone physical transformations since 2006, from new buildings and playing fields to dormitory renovations. The campus has seen the addition of a 26-floor student residence at 33 Harry Agganis Way, nicknamed StuVi2, the New Balance Playing Field, the Yawkey Center for Student Services, the Alan and Sherry Leventhal Center, the Law tower and Redstone annex, the Engineering Product Innovation Center (EPIC), the Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering, and the Joan and Edgar Booth Theatre, which opened in fall 2017. The construction of the Rajen Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences & Engineering was funded by part of BU's largest ever gift, a $115 million donation from Rajen Kilachand. The Dahod Family Alumni Center in the renovated BU Castle began in May 2017 and was completed in fall 2018. Development of the university's existing housing stock has included significant renovations to BU's oldest dorm, 610 Beacon Street (formerly Myles Standish Hall) and Annex, and to Kilachand Hall, formerly known as Shelton Hall, and a brand new student residence on the Medical Campus. In May 2024, Boston University removed Myles Standish's name from the building.
tags: #Boston #University #official #symbols #and #traditions
