Category: Traditions
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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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May Weekend
Written by Hannah Mosher, Class of 2026 Originating in Europe over a thousand years ago, the purpose of the May Day celebrations has historically been to welcome the changing of the seasons.1 Willamette’s version of this tradition, May Weekend, began at the university in the early years of the twentieth century and carried on until… 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