Spring Break
The Daily OrangeSyracuse Traditions: The good, the bad and the pink
By Holden Fenner
Posted: 9/24/08, 12:22 AM EST Section: Feature
Like most undergrads, I was required to take WRT 205. This was a course taught by a serious woman who did serious research. In contrast, I once spent an entire morning trying to figure out which cereal would take the longest to get soggy. (I still don't know the answer to this; I lost interest sometime around the Captain Crunch experiment.) To be perfectly honest, if the answer lies beyond Wikipedia, I find an easier question.
This is not to say I am incapable of research. I just like to know that the guy who authored the brain surgery entry also has a deep interest in light sabers. So this past week, I delved deep into the history of Syracuse.
Syracuse University has a motto: Suos Cultores Scientia Coronat. Loosely translated, this means, "Our original colors were pink and green. That is the last time we ever drink tequila." This is actually true (maybe not the tequila part, though it would explain a lot). SU went from pink and green to pink and blue and finally to orange, according to the Web site. The Web site was unspecific as to why the colors would need to be visible from the moon.
They came up with the original colors in 1872, and changed to orange in 1889 after they won a football game at Hamilton. Predictably, Hamilton made "derisive comments" about the colors, to which SU responded "your mom." Then they went home and changed the colors because no matter how manly you are, pink is just embarrassing.
I can't help but wonder what happened in the 17 years in between. Apparently, nobody came to the school and said, "Gosh, I'm no expert, but I think those guys are laughing at us." "Of course they are! We are wearing these silly leather helmets!"
In addition to being colorblind, Syracuse also has a proud architectural history. We are home to many famous historical landmarks, including Carnegie Library. I visited Carnegie as part of my research. Well, to be accurate, I was going to class. But the first version sounds like I put a lot more effort into the research.
This is not to say I am incapable of research. I just like to know that the guy who authored the brain surgery entry also has a deep interest in light sabers. So this past week, I delved deep into the history of Syracuse.
Syracuse University has a motto: Suos Cultores Scientia Coronat. Loosely translated, this means, "Our original colors were pink and green. That is the last time we ever drink tequila." This is actually true (maybe not the tequila part, though it would explain a lot). SU went from pink and green to pink and blue and finally to orange, according to the Web site. The Web site was unspecific as to why the colors would need to be visible from the moon.
They came up with the original colors in 1872, and changed to orange in 1889 after they won a football game at Hamilton. Predictably, Hamilton made "derisive comments" about the colors, to which SU responded "your mom." Then they went home and changed the colors because no matter how manly you are, pink is just embarrassing.
I can't help but wonder what happened in the 17 years in between. Apparently, nobody came to the school and said, "Gosh, I'm no expert, but I think those guys are laughing at us." "Of course they are! We are wearing these silly leather helmets!"
In addition to being colorblind, Syracuse also has a proud architectural history. We are home to many famous historical landmarks, including Carnegie Library. I visited Carnegie as part of my research. Well, to be accurate, I was going to class. But the first version sounds like I put a lot more effort into the research.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Richard Ben Sager
posted 9/24/08 @ 9:37 AM EST
Take my wife, please! Yuck, yuck, yuck.
Unfunny as usual. The streak continues.
anonymous
posted 9/24/08 @ 11:25 AM EST
I've laughed more reading obituaries. Seriously.
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