Category: Student Life
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Wulapalooza
Written by Lilly Thies, Class of 2026 Wulapalooza, Willamette’s Earth, Art, and Music festival, was a hallmark of student life from its conception in 1998 to its last show twenty years later in 2018. In the first week of May, students, momentarily freed from studying for exams, would stream out onto Brown Field to bask Read more
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Phi Delta Theta
Written by Lilly Thies, Class of 2026 The role of sororities and fraternities in the context of a liberal arts education has been frequently debated in recent years, especially when it comes to small private schools like Willamette. The history of Greek life at Willamette is one that spans more than 100 years, and has Read more
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WU Literary Magazines, 1965-Present
Written by Lilly Thies, Class of 2026 In Spring of 2025, Willamette’s literary magazine The Mill launched their annual publication with a reading in the Writing Center, where writers, artists, editorial staff, and friends were invited to be in community, hear writers read their work, and celebrate the 60th year since the founding of Willamette’s Read more
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Hawai’i Club
Written by Juliette Burns, Class of 2026 The Hawai’i Club at Willamette University has a long history of providing a space for students from Hawai’i on campus, while opening up dialogue and sharing experiences about Hawaiian culture. The club’s origins trace back to the Hawaiian Student Union (HSU), which was formed in 1968. Their stated Read more
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The Native and Indigenous Student Union at Willamette University
Written by Juliette Burns, Class of 2026 Throughout Willamette University’s history, the school has been undeniably tied to the Indigenous populations in the Willamette Valley region. The very begining of the university was as the Oregon Indian Mission Manual Labor School, started by the Methodist missionary Jason Lee in the 1830s.2 Indigenous children at the Read more
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History of Nutria in Willamette Valley and University
Written by Student Contributor Juliette Burns, Class of 2026 Many newly arrived into the Willamette Valley may find themselves at a loss with the mention of a curious animal called a nutria. Some find them cute, some find them terrifying, and everyone is confused. Nutria (also called coypu) are semi-aquatic rodents native to South America, Read more
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Barney, Blitz, and the Bearcat
Written by Juliette Burns Blitz the Bearcat, the well-liked Willamette mascot with a confusing animal origin, has a mascot history going back over a century. The bearcat itself was named Willamette University’s mascot to represent the school in sports events in 1915.1 For those not in the know, the bearcat is a real animal, also Read more
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Freshman Glee
Written by Jess Kimmel, Class of 2025 One of the longest-lasting student traditions at Willamette University was the Freshman Glee competition, which began in the spring of 1909. Freshman Glee ran continuously every year until its cancellation in 1997, reflecting Willamette’s strong school spirit and the students enthusiasm for friendly competition. An early edition of Read more
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Freshman Glee Winners
From the Archives Freshman Glee Winners Read more about Freshman Glee Year 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 4th Place 1909 Freshmen ’12 n/a n/a n/a 1910 Sophomores ’12 Freshmen ’13 Seniors ’10 Juniors ’11 1911 Sophomores ’13 Freshman ’14 Juniors ’12 Seniors ’11 1912 Seniors ’12 Sophomores ’14 Freshmen ’15 Juniors ’13 1913 Sophomores Read more