Essay on History and Heritage
Written by J Thomas Brown
| The Beginning | Masterplan I | Masterplan II & III | Athletics | Organizations | Traditions |
From Normal School to University
Traditions
Alma Mater- Charles M. Curry, Professor of English and Literature, authored "The Alma Mater". It was originally entitled, "Indiana’s Normal" and first printed in a June 1912 issue of the Normal Advance.
Blue and White- The school colors of Indiana State University have been blue and white since 1899, when it was announced the Yale Blue and White would replace the colors of Salmon Pink and White. The colors are also applied to the Blue and White Parade and the Blue and White Dance held during Homecoming each fall.
Book and Torch- The book and torch are official symbols of the University. The book symbolizes the knowledge and truth gained here and the torch symbolizes the light of inspiration that comes to students in these halls.
Book and Torch Ceremony- A traditional ceremony marking the commitment of the Senior Class to become active alumni of Indiana State. Historically each Senior Class was charged with adding to the Parsons-Sandison Living Memorial Fund; a scholarship fund for Indiana State students. Comprised of two ceremonies, the first is held on Founder Day (January) at which time the President of the Alumni Association charges the Senior Class to make a commitment to the University. At the time of commencement another ceremony is held during which the Senior Class answers the challenge of commitment, as they become alumni of the University.
Chief Quabachi & Other Mascots - In 1969, a committee created the Chief Quabachi concept as a mascot for the school. This Indian Chief (and accompanying legend) was used as a mascot until 1989 when the university dropped its use of the Indian in response to a variety of objections over use of the Indian caricature. In recent years there have been various attempts to identify a new mascot, but these have all faltered due to lack of enthusiasm. The university welcomed Sycamore Sam to the ISU family. The blue-and-white creature is a favorite among young and old alike. Thus, we remain the Sycamores and use a Sycamore leaf as our logo.
Donaghy Day- Named after Fred Donaghy, graduate of the Normal School (1912) and a Professor of Science, this campus tradition was initiated in 1976 as a day set aside for the community to celebrate the season and work to help beautify the campus environment.
Eastern Division- Indiana State Normal School (Ball State University)- The Eastern Division was created in 1918 in the building of the old Muncie Institute in Muncie, Indiana. The Eastern division became Ball State Teachers College in 1929 when Indiana State Normal became Indiana State Teachers College. The Indiana State Teachers College Board of Trustees governed both colleges until 1961.
Publications:
Normal Advance
Sycamore Yearbook
Indiana Statesman
The student publication the Normal School Advance (a monthly) first appeared in November 1895. In 1915 the monthly format was dropped in favor of a weekly newspaper and an annual published in June of each year. Both publications continued to carry the name Normal Advance until 1924 when the yearbook was renamed the Sycamore, and 1929 when the newspaper was renamed the Indiana Statesman.
Seal of the University- The current seal includes the symbols of the book and torch and the founding date of 1865; it was approved for use by the board of Trustees in 1929, the year that the Normal School became the Indiana State Teachers College.
Statues-
The woman on the East Side of Gillum Hall is "Dedication to Service". The Sculpture of a woman with hands outstretched in consecration the teaching profession was created by Harry Wann, chairman of the Foreign Language Department, and was dedicated in April 1950.
The piece on the patio of the science Hall overlooking Dede Plaza is entitled, "Prometheus". The sculpture of Prometheus reaching for the sun was created by John Laska, member of the Art Department faculty, and was dedicated in June 1963.
Sycamores- In 1921 a contest was held to pick a name for the athletic teams at what was then called the Indiana State Normal School. Un until this time the term "Fighting Teachers" was frequently used in press accounts of athletic contests. In January 1922 it was announced that the name Sycamores had won a popular vote of the student body, although there is some question as to how serious the student body was in picking this name. Nevertheless, Indiana State University has used this rather unique name since this date. The problem has been that a Sycamore is a tree and does not lend itself very well to creation of a mascot. Athletic teams have been know in the past as the " The Fighting Trees", which was not considered a very glamorous or intimidating concept. For a period of time in the 1950’s and 1960’s there actually was a tree mascot developed, but this posed obvious problems of embarrassment with other mascots when we played such schools as the Butler Bulldogs or the Ball State Cardinals.
Tandem- This student-organized race was first run as part of Spring Week activities in 1970. In 1971 the race was expanded to 50 miles. The teams are comprised of coed mixed pairs, which compete on tandem bicycles.
Trike- The Indiana State Tricycle Derby was first run in 1963 as a ten-lap race around the sidewalks of the Quadrangle on children’s tricycles. The races featured a men and women’s division. The Powder Puff Derby. The races now feature men’s and women’s teams racing on specially built tricycles.
Victory Bell- A symbol of the traditional athletic rivalry in football between Indiana State and Ball State. The Victory Bell tradition was inaugurated in 1940 when the Blue Key chapter at Ball State arranged to donate a bell to be presented to the victor of the football game. The Idea was to start a traditional exchange of the bell as a means of improving relationships between the two student bodies.
Fight Song- "On You Fighting Sycamores", the university’s fight song, was authored and arranged by Joseph A. Gremelspacher, Professor of Music, as a pep song. It was first preformed at a homecoming-eve pep rally on October 20, 1939.
Founders Day- January 6, of each year (although it is not observed on this date in recent years) commemorates the opening of the institution in 1870 when 23 students presented themselves to a faculty of three on the first day classes held at the Indiana State Normal School.
Homecoming- The term Homecoming was first used in print announcements for the Alumni-Varsity Basketball Game on December 9, 1916. By the year 1919 this event became known as Blue and White Day and featured dances and entertainment for alumni of the Normal School. In 1921 the events were organized around a football game scheduled earlier in the autumn. A bonfire and pep rally was added to the festivities in 1922; the Blue and White Parade in 1923; and in 1937, Bette Whitmore (Kappa Kappa) was elected Homecoming Queen.
Indiana State University- Evansville (University of Southern Indiana)- Indiana State university-Evansville was created as a branch campus in 1965. Like Ball State University it became an independent institution of higher education (1985) when it was granted independent standing as the University of Southern Indiana.
Logo- The Sycamore leaf symbol was designed in 1985 by Dan Davis. His concept for the design was an outgrowth of a class project at a time when the University was looking for a new visual image.
Memory Lane- Located between Gillum and Dreiser halls this is the site where Senior Class time capsules are buried. In a tradition begun in 1952, graduating seniors in the baccalaureate procession drop name cards into a capsule to be buried on campus.
Names of the University:
Indiana State Normal School, 1865-1929
Indiana State Teachers College, 1929-1960
Indiana State College, 1960-1965
Indiana State University, 1965 onwards