New Traditions

New Student Orientation

NSO is a five-day program to introduce students to campus life at WPI. Members of the fraternities and sororities assist the new students and their families in moving their belongings into the residence halls. Orientation Leaders (OLs) work with the freshmen on a weeklong project and lead in fun activities that immerse them in student life at WPI. At the conclusion of NSO, the freshmen enter into a two-term peer advising program known as Insight, which is led by their Orientation Leader (now known as a Peer Advisor), a resident advisor, and a faculty advisor.

Founders Day

Each year on November 11 (the anniversary of Boynton Hall’s dedication in 1868), one of WPI’s nine founders is honored. Student volunteers participate in reenactments of the school’s history and share readings in classrooms on the founder celebrated that year. Faculty, staff, and alumni provide artifacts for display, and a live goat is present on campus. Celebrity Squares (the second Goat’s Head Rivalry event) is held in the evening.

Winter Carnival

Coordinated by the Social Committee (SocComm), this event is held to distract students from schoolwork and their yearning for winter break. It provides a well-deserved break in the academic life of WPI students just before finals. Activities include a Klondike-bar hunt, various rides, and several events and programs sponsored by different student organizations throughout the week. The third of the Freshman-Sophomore Rivalry events (Eskimo Relay) events is held during this time. The Major and Special Events Committee (MSEC) of SocComm also hosts a large concert or comedian performance during the week.

Traditions Day

This community event was first held on April 16, 1991. Its primary objective was to educate faculty, staff, and students about the history and traditions of WPI. The students enjoyed such activities as a Pie Eating Contest and a Dunk Tank (to dunk their "favorite" faculty or staff member). Higgins House was temporarily transformed into a museum with original drawings and artifacts. The grand finale of the day’s events, which were sponsored by the Student Alumni Society, was a campus-wide candle lighting ceremony that began on the Quad and ended in Institute Park.

Traditions Day is now held on the second Thursday of April. It’s a time to reflect on WPI’s history and traditions. On the evening before, a Candlewalk around campus is done while singing the Alma Mater. On this day, SAS members host three Freshman-Sophomore Rivalry events: Pennant Rush, Cage Ball, and WPI Jeopardy. The class to win two out of three events wins the rivalry point for the day. During the intermission of Jeopardy, there is an Alma Mater contest, in which various groups on campus enter and present original renditions of the WPI Alma Mater. The contest is open to all groups who want to be creative with the Alma Mater and put on a good show for the students and judges.

Quadfest

Perhaps the biggest student celebration on campus during the school year, Quadfest marks the completion of the academic year for most students. It is coordinated by SocComm and events are sponsored by several student organizations. Throughout the week, several bands, novelties, and activities are available for students to participate in to take their minds off finals. The Junior/Senior Mystery Event (the final event for the Goat’s Head Rivalry) is held during Quadfest.

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Last modified: Feb 22, 2006, 14:44 EST