Concise Encyclopedia of Tufts History
Sauer, Anne
Branco, Jessica
Bennett, John
Crowley, Zachary
2000
Mayoralty, 1937-1959
Each spring from 1937 to 1959, Tufts undergraduates rallied to elect an unofficial mayor of Tufts. When suggested by a student in 1937, the administration readily accepted the idea of the mayoralty campaigns as potentially channeling the springtime enthusiasm of undergraduates into organized mayhem rather than the other types of pre-finals mischief that had been the norm. The mock political elections were a celebration of school spirit and an opportunity for carefree fun before the seriousness of finals. | |
Mayoralty began in January or February as fraternities, sororities, and student groups decided which candidates to support. Candidates ran under whimsical names such as Stuporman, Captain Question Mark, Lucky Pierre, and Diamond Mike, though historical figures also played a role, such as Annie Oakley, P.T. Barnum, and Geronimo. During the campaign, candidates and their supporters staged soapbox speeches, skits, parades, dance bands, comedy acts, costumes, live animals, fancy floats, and trucks with public address systems. Involvement in the event was all-encompassing, with almost all members of the Tufts community getting involved. | |
Mayoralty antics spread beyond the confines of the Medford campus as well."Buccaneer" Bob Meehan, A1954, in full pirate regalia, captured the Swan Boats in the Public Garden in Boston as part of his campaign. | |
The last mayoralty was held in 1957. | |
Source: TA, Spring 1994. | |
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