Concise Encyclopedia of Tufts History

Sauer, Anne

Branco, Jessica

Bennett, John

Crowley, Zachary

2000

Freshman Buttons and Bows, 1915-1969

 

As one part of the many hazing rituals endured by freshman women, first-year Jackson students were required to wear green buttons. The tradition of button-wearing began soon after the college opened in 1910 and continuted until 1931 when, after much student complaint about the buttons ripping clothes, the sophomore class switched to using green bows. The green buttons, and later green bows, served not only to denote a freshman's class rank, but also aided sophomores in their monitoring of how closely first-year Jackson students adhered to all freshmen traditions.

The green bows were worn by Jackson freshmen every day until Freshman Sing, when the bows were burned in a formal ceremony. Prior to 1931, Freshman Sing represented the day when students were allowed to remove their buttons. In 1943, however, a group of Jackson freshmen burned their bows in front of Ballou Hall in protest of the hazing ritual. The sophomore class held a special ceremony in Goddard Chapel to chastise the freshmen for their transgression. Even in the face of such protest, sophomores continued to enforce the tradition.

Jackson freshmen were required to wear thier bows until the mid-1950s. During the following decade, the hazing period was shortened to only three days, with girls participating in specific activities each day. Jackson freshmen sported their green bows, tied at the required height of one inch above their hairlines, during the shortened period. Hazing rituals decreased on college campuses accross the country, however, throughout the 1960s. As a result, the tradition of bow-wearing by Jackson freshmen disappeared by the early 1970s.

Source: TW 5/25/27, 10/22/36, 10/5/50

 
 
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  • The encyclopedia seeks to capture more than 150 years of Tufts' achievements, societal contributions and outstanding alumni and faculty in concise entries. As a source of accurate factual information, the Encyclopedia can be used by anyone interested in the history of Tufts and of the people who have made it the unique institution it is.
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Dame, Lorin Low, 1838-1903
Dana, Charles A., 1881-1975
Dana Laboratory, 1963
Daniel Ounjian Prize in Economics,
Davies, Caroline Stodder, 1864-1939
Davies House, 1894
De Florez Prize in Human Engineering, 1964
de Pacheco, Kaye MacKinnon, ca. 1910-ca. 1985
Dean Hall, 1887-1963
Dean, Oliver, 1783-1871
Dearborn, Heman Allen, 1831-1897
Department of Anatomy and Cellular Biology, 1893
Department of Anesthesia, 1970
Department of Art and Art History, 1930
Department of Biochemistry, 1893
Department of Chemistry, 1882
Department of Community Health, 1930
Department of Dermatology, 1897
The Department of Economics, 1946
Department of Medicine, 1893
Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology
Department of Neurology, 1893
Department of Neuroscience, 1983
Department of Neurosurgery, 1951
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1893
Department of Ophthamology, 1893
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 1906
Department of Otolaryngology, 1895
Department of Pathology, 1893
Department of Pediatrics, 1930
Department of Pharmacology, 1915
Department of Physics and Astronomy, 1854
Department of Physiology, 1893
Department of Psychiatry, 1928
Department of Radiation Oncology, 1968
Department of Radiology, 1915
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1955
Department of Surgery, 1893
Department of Urban and Environmental Policy, 1973
Department of Urology, 1910
Dental Health Sciences Building, 1969
Dewick, Cora Alma (Polk), 1875-1977
Dewick/MacPhie Dining Hall, 1959
Dickson Professorship of English and American History, 1913
Dirlam, Arland A., 1905-1979
Dog Cart, 1900
Dolbear, Amos Emerson, 1837-1910
Donald A. Cowdery Memorial Scholarship, 1946
Dr. Benjamin Andrews Professorship of Surgery, 1987
Dr. Philip E. A. Sheridan Prize, 1977
The Drug Bust, 1970
Dudley, Henry Watson, 1831-1906
Dugger, Edward Jr., 1919-75
Durkee, Frank W., 1861-1939
Durkee, Henrietta Noble Brown, 1871-1946
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