Concise Encyclopedia of Tufts History
Sauer, Anne
Branco, Jessica
Bennett, John
Crowley, Zachary
2000
Freshman Beanies, 1854-1969
From the early days of Tufts College through the late nineteen sixties, freshman males at Tufts were required to wear a beanie denoting their class every time they walked around campus. | |
The Sword and Shield Society, the official student organization of the sophomore class and designated keeper of Tufts traditions, regulated a number of hazing rules for the freshman class. From the late nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century, the rivalry between the classes was played up, and freshman were forced to follow a list of Sword and Shield ordinances for behavior and appearance around campus. The most noticeable rule was that all freshman males had to wear a beanie. The brown and blue beanies could be purchased at the Tufts bookstore, and were to be worn at all times unless otherwise posted. Students were required to doff their beanies when meeting the president or members of the faculty. | |
Although the beanie tradition began to die out in the nineteen fifties, it continued nominally until the late nineteen sixties, by which time almost all of the freshman traditions had disappeared. | |
Source: LOH, TW | |
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