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Los Angeles: Traditions
Some UCLA traditions may be traced to the time the campus
was still located on Vermont Avenue. Later, Founder's Rock was hauled to the
Westwood site, the first song was written, a mascot chosen, and the first note
of the big rivalry was sounded when students from the University of Southern
California burned a bonfire which had been set for a UCLA rally. Many of these
early traditions prevailed, some in altered form, together with a number of
new ones introduced in the succeeding years.
Big C
The original Big C was built in 1939 by students, and
for many years the concrete letter dominated the campus landscape from the hill
later occupied by Sproul Residence Hall. In 1960, Big C junior, slightly smaller
in size than its predecessor, was built on the bluff below Sproul Hall.
Big Rivalry
Big Rivalry was the crosstown rivalry between UCLA and
the University of Southern California. The annual football game between the
two schools, first played on September 28, 1929, was one of the highlights of
the season and decided ownership of the victory bell, and whether or not UCLA
students held a victory rally on the Monday following the game.
Card Stunts
Card Stunts were essentially the same as those performed
elsewhere, but "light stunts" became a trademark of the UCLA rooting
section. They were originated in 1935 when the football team played some of
its games at night. The rooting section was wired and each student was given
four light bulbs, each of a different color. The various stunts were performed
in the darkened stadium by students plugging in the required bulb. In 1953,
because the light bulbs and wiring were not only difficult to handle but expensive
as well, the students developed a card similar to the type used in ordinary
card stunts with eight different light filters placed in a circular pattern;
each student was given a flashlight to shine through the various filters.
Founder's Rock
Founder's Rock was a 75-ton boulder of solid granite
at the eastern entrance of the campus marking the general area where Regent
Edward A. Dickson stood in 1923 when he resolved that Westwood would be the
site of the new campus of the University. The boulder was brought to Westwood
from Perris Valley, California, in time for the dedication of the new campus
on October 25, 1926.
Homecoming
Homecoming was a tradition that underwent a few changes
since its inception in 1927. In 1933, a parade of boats, the first of its kind
at any university, was held in Westwood Village in addition to a carnival and
bonfire. In 1964, the parade was temporarily grounded, in that the Boats became
stationary and the bonfire were replaced by an olio show, barbeque and a television
rally with the University of Southern California (large television screens were
set up on the two campuses so that the students on each could witness both rallies
via closed circuit television). A rally dance was held each year to end the
week of festivities which included a homecoming concert, the Westwood Village
street dance, and the crowning of the Homecoming Queen.
Kelps
Kelps attended all athletic events and performed various
stunts to cheer on the team. The Noble Order of Kelps was started in 1947 as
a men's spirit organization to foster and stimulate interest in the school and
student activities, and to promote spirit through individual action and collective
participation in the affairs of the University. Its members were selected on
the basis of service and on their capabilities as "rooter rousers."
Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras, which was billed as the world's largest collegiate
activity, helped support Uni-Camp, a summer camp for underprivileged children.
It began in 1949 as a bazaar to raise money for the school's foreign students,
but grew to a full-scale carnival with booths, games, rides, food and concerts.
By the mid-1960s, over 30,000 people annually attended Mardi Gras, and the
funds enabled more than 700 underprivileged children to go to summer camp each
year.
Mascot
In 1925, the grizzly bear was chosen as the official
mascot for the school. However, when UCLA entered the Pacific Coast Conference
in 1929, the University of Montana (a conference member) had the same mascot
so the bruin was selected to replace the grizzly. When students used to bring
live bears to attend their games, they gave them a variety of names depending
on the sex of the particular animal; Joe and Josephine Bruin were the names
that endured. Joe Bruin was in attendance at every athletic event, though the
live bears were supplanted by a student dressed in a costume that is a caricature
of the animal.
Songs
Originally, Berkeley's "Hail to California"
was also sung at Los Angeles, but in 1925, student Bert Price wrote the words
and music of a song especially for UCLA called, "Hail, Blue and Gold."
in 1960, this was replaced by "Hail to the Hills of Westwood," with
words and music by student Jeane Emerson, and this remained the alma mater.
Other songs connected with UCLA included "By the Old Pacific, " words
and music by Thomas Victor Beall, and "Team, Hear Our Song," words
by Don Davis, music by Harry Fillmore.
Spring Sing
Spring Sing began in 1946 when the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity's
unofficial title of "Champion Serenaders of Fraternity Rome was challenged.
The first formal competition took place in Royce Hall and was so well attended
that the event was moved to the open air theater the following year. In 1952,
when the Medical Center was built on this site, the Spring Sing was moved to
the Hollywood Bowl. "Sing for a pavilion" was the title used for the
event during the next three years as proceeds went to help build a new pavilion
on campus to replace the old open air theater. Later proceeds were used for
scholarships for foreign students.
The Trip
Every fall, thousands of students traveled to the Bay
Area for the UCLA-Stanford football game at Palo Alto or, in alternate years,
the UCLA-UC game at Berkeley. Originally started in 1931, the first trips were
made by boat and train. By the mid-1960s, students traveled by plane and private
auto.
Uni-Camp
Unicamp was a summer camp in the San Bernardino Mountains
for underprivileged, blind and diabetic children of the Los Angeles area. It
was founded in 1935 by 11 UCLA students and is coordinated by the University
Religious Conference in conjunction with local elementary and junior high schools,
church affiliated organizations and community centers. The camp was divided
into two-week sessions and was operated by UCLA students who acted as counselors
and who received only their room and board during their stay. The camp was supported
mainly through the contributions of students and proceeds from special events
such as Mardi Gras.
Victory Bell
Victory Bell was given to the student body by the UCLA
Alumni Association in 1939, and was originally the school's own symbol of victory
until it was taken by students from the University of Southern California in
1941. When it was surrendered in 1942, the student body presidents of the two
schools agreed that the bell should be a permanent trophy awarded the winner
of the annual UCLA-USC football game.
Victory Rally
Victory Rally, originated in 1946, took place on the
Monday following the UCLA-USC football game, should UCLA be the winner. Students
joined in a march to the intersection of Wilshire and Westwood Boulevards to
sing and cheer.
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The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Last updated 06/18/04.
