The Traditions and
History of Iowa State University of Science and Technology
Iowa State University of Science and Technology was created
on March 22, 1858, by the legislature of the State of Iowa as the Iowa
Agricultural College and Model Farm. The
Farm House was erected as the first building on campus (and still stands
today). In 1862, the Iowa legislature
voted to accept the provisions of the Morrill Act, officially establishing Iowa
State as a land grant institution, renaming the college Iowa Agricultural
College and in 1898 becoming Iowa State College of Agricultural and Mechanic
Arts.
The first class entered in 1869 and the first graduating
class of 24 men and 2 women graduated in 1872.
The nation’s first state veterinary medicine school was created at Iowa
State in 1879. In 1959, Iowa State was
officially renamed Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The current enrollment has reached over
31,000 students (the most in the state, graciously surpassing the University of
Iowa and University of Northern Iowa).
Iowa State is known for its advancements in the fields of
agriculture, design, engineering, and research science. Iowa State is one of the top
research-institutes in the nation.
DID YOU KNOW…
Did you
know that Iowa State played a significant role in the Manhattan Project (the
top-secret government program that developed the atomic bombs that were used
during World War II)? Iowa State,
through the Ames Laboratory, perfected a cheap and effective way to purify
uranium that was used to make the bombs.
During its time with the Manhattan Project, Iowa State purified over 2
million pounds of uranium using the Ames Process. The Ames Process is still widely used today
in industry because the process is so effective and cheap compared to other
processes.
Did you
know that Iowa State invented the first digital computer? Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff and his graduate
assistant Clifford Berry created the first automatic electronic digital
computer between 1939 and 1942 and was known as the Atanasoff-Berry Computer
(ABC). However, credit for this
discovery did not go to Dr. Atanasoff until a federal court ruling in 1973,
declaring that Dr. John Vincent Atanasoff was the first inventor of the
automatic electronic digital computer. A
working replica of the ABC is housed in Physics Hall.
Did you
know the Carrie Chapman Catt, a prominent figure in the fight for women’s
suffrage, graduated as Valedictorian of the graduating class of 1880? Catt Hall is named after her.
Did you
know that George Washington Carver also graduated from Iowa State? He is prominently known for his work with the
peanut plant. Carver Hall is named after
him and a small statue is erected in his likeness outside the building.
Did you
know that there used to be a train that ran from downtown Ames to campus (the
Hub more precisely) called the Dinky?
The Dinky was a tiny, narrow-gauge steam engine that ran between the
college and downtown Ames from 1891 to 1907.
The Dinky was replaced by an electronic trolley, which operated from
1907 to 1929. The depot was the Hub,
which now houses Caribou Coffee and the Hub Grill & Café.*
Did you
know that VEISHEA stands for: Veterinary Engineering Industrial Science Home
Economics Agriculture? At the creation
of VEISHEA in 1922, Iowa State was comprised of these five divisions (now
called colleges). Notably, Iowa State
now has six colleges (Business, Design, Agriculture & Life Sciences,
Liberal Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and Human Sciences).
Did you
know that Cy the Mascot was voted the Most Dominant Mascot in 2007 AND was
named Capital One’s Mascot of the Year in 2008?
Cy was “born” in 1954. Cy is
depicted as a cardinal because of the school colors cardinal and gold, and the
inherent difficulty to “stuff” a cyclone.
Did you
know that the school’s original colors were gold, silver, and black? They were changed to cardinal (NOT RED) and
gold in 1899. Let’s leave the gold,
silver, and black to the University of Iowa, shall we, since our student body (in 1899) wanted “a
distinctive and striking set of colors.”
Did you
know that the “Cyclones” were created in 1895?
Iowa State became the Cyclones after they leveled Northwestern in
1895. On September 29, 1895, the Chicago Tribune noted: Struck by a
Cyclone It Comes From Iowa And Devastates Evanston Town. “Northwestern might as well have tried to
play football with an Iowa cyclone as with the Iowa team it met yesterday. At the end of 50 minutes’ play, the big husky
farmers from Iowa’s Agricultural College had rolled up 36 points, while the
15-yard line was the nearest Northwestern got to Iowa’s goal.”
Do you
know the story behind the Campanile?
The
story of the campanile is, in essence, a love story. Edgar Stanton graduated with the first class
of Iowa State in 1872. He spent 50 years
on campus as a student and faculty member, becoming the head of the Department
of Mathematics, secretary to the Board of Trustees, dean of the junior college,
vice-president, and on four different occasions, acting president. His first wife was Margaret MacDonald
Stanton, first dean of women. When she
died, July 25, 1895, she had been closely identified with the university for
almost 25 years. Stanton wanted to
establish a monument so all students and friends of Iowa State would remember
her. He finally decided to purchase and
have installed a chime of 10 bells in a detached tower on central campus. President William M. Beardshear helped him
choose the site, and the state legislature appropriated $7500 for the
construction of the tower and its clock.
Stanton died September 12, 1920, and his will provided that after
certain bequests were taken out, the residue of his estate should be turned
over to the university for furnishing a memorial to him. His second wife, Julia Wentch Stanton, and
the children, decided to request that the university install 26 additional
bells, thus forming a musical instrument which became known as the Edgar W. and
Margaret MacDonald Stanton Memorial Carillon.
Did you
know that Jack Trice Stadium is named after ISU football player Jack
Trice? Jack Trice was the first black
athlete at Iowa State and died after injuries suffered during his first college
game in October 1923. The stadium was
officially named Jack Trice Stadium in his honor in 1997 after extensive
requests and persistence from students, alumni, faculty and staff, and other
supporters. Jack Trice Stadium is the
only Division I-A stadium named after an African American individual.
Here is
a letter written by Jack the night before his first game:
“Oct. 5, 1923
To whom it may concern,
My
thoughts just before the first real college game of my life. The honor of my race, family, and self is at
stake. Everyone is expecting me to do
big things. I will! My whole body
and soul are to be thrown recklessly about the field tomorrow. Everytime the ball is snapped, I will
be trying to do more than my part.
On all
defensive plays I must break thru opponents’ line and stop the play in their
territory. Beware of mass-interference –
fight low with your eyes open and toward the play. Roll-back the interference. Watch out for cross bucks and reverse end
runs. Be on your toes every minute if
you expect to make good.
7:45
Jack”
-
Jack Trice
Did you know that the fight song
was created by three ISU students? “ISU
Fights” was written by Jack Barker (1930), Manly Rice (1930), and Paul Gham
(1932). The timeless song:
Oh we will fight, fight, fight for Iowa
State
And may her
colors ever fly
Yes, we will
fight with might for Iowa State
With the will to
do or die. Rah! Rah! Rah!
Loyal sons
forever true
And we will
fight the battle through
And when we hit
that line we’ll hit it hard
Every yard for
ISU!
Iowa State Traditions
– Iowa State University Alumni Association
Did you
know that Morrill Hall is named after Justin Smith Morrill? Morrill Hal was built in 1890 and was named
after Justin Smith Morrill, who introduced the Land Grant Act, making Iowa
State possible.
Iowa State Traditions
– Iowa State University Alumni Association
Did you
know that the Marston Water Tower was the first free-standing water tower west
of the Mississippi River? Today, the
Marston Water Tower is surrounded by the high-tech engineering buildings and
serves as a reminder of yesterday’s legacies.
Built in 1897 by Anson Marston, the first dean of engineering, the
168-foot-tall tower supplied water to the campus in its early days. Today, the Marston Water Tower is on the
National Register of Historic Places.
Iowa State Traditions
– Iowa State University Alumni Association
Did you
know that the Farm House was Iowa State’s first building? Today a museum, the Farm House was Iowa
State’s first building, built three years before the college opened its doors
in 1868. The building housed students,
farm help, presidents, and deans.***
Iowa State Traditions
– Iowa State University Alumni Association
Did you
know that all members of the freshman class had to wear red beanie caps? From 1916 until 1934 red “prep caps” or
“freshmen beanies” were required attire for freshmen class members. In the spring, the caps were burned in a
bonfire during a “moving up” ceremony, when the freshmen officially became
members of the sophomore class. By 1934,
the wearing of hats on campus had passed out of fashion, and the “prep cap”
tradition was dropped.
…NOW YOU KNOW
Iowa State has many traditions that have developed over the
years.
The Zodiac
Students and faculty alike walk around the zodiac in the north
entrance of the Memorial Union. If you
step on the zodiac, you will fail your next exam, but this can be reversed by
throwing a coin into the Fountain of the Four Seasons.
Where did this superstition develop? The myth was developed circa 1929. The architect for the Memorial Union figured
that the millions of footsteps over the raised bronze symbols would eventually
wear them down so they were even with the floor. However, the students of Iowa State liked the
raised look, so to prevent people from walking on the zodiac, they created the
myth. While you probably won’t fail your
next exam if you accidentally forget to walk around it (and subsequently throw
a coin into the fountain), most students don’t want to risk the chance and
continue to walk around the zodiac in true Cyclone fashion.
Homecoming
Homecoming is a big tradition, with celebrations lasting
throughout the week. The first
homecoming was in 1912 and this past year (2012), Iowa State celebrated its
“Cy-Tennial” with 100 Homecomings!
Alumni first began returning home for an official Homecoming
in 1912. Since then, the celebration
continues to entertain both young and old Iowa Staters with traditional events,
including tailgate parties, fireworks, lawn displays, “Yell Like Hell” cheering
competition, and mass campaniling.
Several times throughout the past decade, the Student Alumni Association
Leadership Council has coordinated the efforts of hundreds of students who
volunteer time to help Story County Habitat for Humanity build a house.
In 1912, ISU was an agricultural college with 1830
students. The campus roads were still
unpaved, Lake LaVerne was just a marsh, and Curtiss Hall was brand new. In 1912, ISU also celebrated its first
Homecoming, and event that would become an integral part of the university
during the next century.
The idea was first proposed by Professor Samuel Beyer, the
college’s “patron saint of athletics,” who suggested that Iowa State inaugurate
a celebration of alumni during the annual football game against rival
University of Iowa. Iowa State’s new
president, Raymond A. Pearson, liked the idea and issued a special invitation
to alumni two weeks prior to the event: “We need you, we must have you. Come and see what a school you have made in
Iowa State. Find a way.”
The response was greater than Pearson expected. A reported 152 alumni returned to campus,
where they enjoyed tours of campus buildings, a play presented by the
sophomores, and a scrimmage football game between the freshmen and
reserves. Classes were cancelled on
Friday afternoon and Saturday, and a pep meeting was held in Curtiss Auditorium
that feature songs, cheers, and a debate.
On Saturday morning, the alumni were invited to a reception and luncheon
at Margaret Hall to “get together and talk about old times.”
But the main event of the weekend was the football game,
which was played at State Field, a parking lot west of the present University
Bookstore. Although the Cyclones lost
21-7, students and alumni celebrated that night in festivities that were
destined to “light up the sky for miles around, shake the stars in their beds,
and make the imps below fearful for the strength of the earth’s crust.”
Homecoming 1912 was deemed a success, and plans for the next
year’s festivities began almost immediately.
Professor Beyer said, “We hope to make the custom so popular that in
future years the number who come back will go far up into the hundreds.”
Beyer’s wish came true.
As ISU evolved during the next 100 years, so did Homecoming. The celebration’s history is filled with pep
rallies, parades, contests, and even riots as the ISU community has come
together each year to celebrate alumni, the university, and, of course,
football.
VEISHEA
Beginnings
The story begins in 1922, back in
the days when ISU wasn’t really ISU but was called the Iowa State College of
Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. The word,
VEISHEA, cannot be found in any dictionary, but it has a definition that is
complete, powerful, and impressive.
VEISHEA means “Iowa State on Display.”
From its meager beginning in 1922 until the spectacular event it is
today, VEISHEA has served the campus, the state, and the Midwest. This concept of VEISHEA grew out of several disunited
Divisional or Excursion Days. These
individual college celebrations interrupted class work for everyone and were
never particularly successful.
Professor Frank D. Paine,
Department of General Engineering, named VEISHEA in 1922. Previous to 1922, May Fete was the only
all-college spring celebration. Then, in
1922, the five colleges at Iowa State combined forces to present the university
to the public as a whole. The name
VEISHEA is composed of the first letters of the five colleges: V standing for
Veterinary Medicine, E for Engineering, IS for Industrial Science, HE for Home
Economics, and A for Agriculture. The
representation of all schools in the name symbolizes the unity and combined
effort shown during the many months of planning and preparation.
The events of that first VEISHEA
included a parade, a sham battle, a Home Economics open house, a horse show,
vaudeville, and the VEISHEA queens. It
might be hard to imagine each parade float drawn by horse instead of the
streamlined convertibles of today’s parade.
It isn’t hard to imagine, on the other hand, that the vaudeville girls
in “Scandals of 1922” were flappers of the Ziegfield influence. Slapstick mocking of the divisions and a play
called “Honeybunch” led the list of events.
No doubt the Charleston and the Big Apple sparked the chorus line.
Early
History
In 1923 came the predecessor to
what is now Stars Over VEISHEA (SOV), minus the stars. Not until 1940 was the musical produced on an
outdoor stage. The VEISHEA night show
featured music and dancing by the students.
The final song had a chamber of commerce-like title; “I’d rather be in
Ames.”
Traditionally, in the childhood
days of VEISHEA, there was the moving-up ceremony, which is absent in the
recent celebrations. The ceremony was a
mock graduation during which every class graduated to the next grade. The most spectacular part of this ceremony
was the burning of the freshmen beanies.
Freshmen burned their red caps in a bonfire to signify that they were
about to become sophomores in what was called a “moving up ceremony.”
A carnival highlighted the second
VEISHEA and was held in the field behind State Gym. Students from the military department rode
horses and performed stunts, fortune tellers told students their future and
there was a raffle of miniature campaniles.
During the 1930s, the VEISHEA
Memorial Fountain was presented to Dr. Charles Friley in 1937 and in the following
year, the Queen of VEISHEA, as chosen by the colleges, crossed Lake LaVerne in
a gondola.
In 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked
and so was VEISHEA. The VEISHEA
committee voted to abolish the celebration, due to student apathy and the
tendency of students to go home for the weekend. Less than a week later, the motion was
withdrawn.
In the 1950s, President Harry
Truman lit the first torch in Ottumwa, which was carried by 127 runners who
represented 25 campus organizations to Des Moines. From there, four ISU students and a mule
named Frances carried it the remaining 33 miles to Ames. Also, in 1958, actor Ronald Reagan was a
guest speaker and the grand marshal of VEISHEA.
In 1963, famous composer and writer
Meredith Wilson was in attendance for the Stars Over VEISHEA presentation, “The
Music Man.” That same year, Vice
President Lyndon Johnson lit the VEISHEA torch.
Modern
History
VEISHEA has matured, without losing
its glamour. The celebration has grown
into a showcase of excellence at Iowa State with VEISHEA Village, exciting
entertainment events, Taste of VEISHEA, and a variety of family and community
events.
Moving into the 80’s, VEISHEA
continued its growth. But in 1988, the
first of three VEISHEA riots rocked the campus.
Another riot in 1992 threatened the future of VEISHEA in the eyes of
alumni and parents. In an effort to
control crowds and provide for more entertainment for people attending VEISHEA,
a Taste of VEISHEA was created in 1993.
This celebration of food vendors and games has been successful ever
since. VEISHEA 1998, “A Time For Change,”
marked a pivotal moment in history with the first ever alcohol-free
celebration. In 2004, another riot broke
out in Campustown, the business district across from Campus. When ISU President Geoffrey suspended the
celebration for 2005, a new committee formed out of VEISHEA: Leaders INspiring Connections
(LINC). LINC put on some of the events put
on by VEISHEA, as well as some new events with a new emphasis on community
service. One of these events was
Operation Playground – the biggest contribution to the Ames Community by Iowa
State students in history. On April 16,
2005, over 500 volunteers helped build three brand new playgrounds in Ames
parks – it was a tremendous success.
Because of the support from
students, faculty, administration officials, city officials, and the community,
VEISHEA was reinstated for 2006. This
new beginning brought many changes to VEISHEA – three stages of a diverse mix
of simultaneous music being one of the newest changes. Taste of VEISEHA was moved on campus. Thousands of students came to campus to “Celebrate
Iowa State,” the 2006 theme.
Traditions
Opening Ceremonies
Opening Ceremonies mark the
official beginning of VEISHEA and proves that despite the changes that occur
within VEISHEA, it is still exciting each year.
The dedication of the fountain located in front of the Memorial Union
was a part of the Opening Ceremonies in 1937.
In 1943, a ceremony honoring the armed forces of the United States was
held on the steps of Beardshear Hall. VEISHEA
Opening Ceremonies were first broadcast over WOI radio in 1947. VEISHEA always begins with rather elaborate
opening ceremonies, including a welcome by the President of Iowa State. Also, the Governor of Iowa often attends the
ceremony. The VEISHEA 1998 opening
ceremonies featured former ISU coach Johnny Majors and the popular ISU group,
the Shaggy Boys. Today’s opening
ceremonies kick off just south of the Campanile around noon each year. They usually begin with a few words from
VEISHEA’s two General co-chairs and a short welcome speech from the ISU
president. There is also a speech made
by a keynote speaker and the VEISHEA scholar recipients are recognized as well.
The Parade
Each year the VEISHEA parade has
attracted an average crowd of more than 75,000 people. From floats and marching bands to balloons
and clowns, the parade can be quite the viewing experience for a person of any
age. When it first started in 1922, only
departmental clubs entered floats. As
the years progressed and the parade became more popular, various other
organizations began to get involved. An
average 3000 hours go into the planning and construction of each float. A float can either be traditional, which
means it is self-propelled by people under the float, or non-traditional, where
it is usually pulled behind a vehicle.
Canoe Races
In 1944, Lake LaVerne became the
scene of canoe racing between dormitory, fraternity, and sorority teams. Using pledge paddles as canoe paddles, the
teams were required to dress in costumes according to a set theme for the
races. Teams would often find it
difficult to navigate the canoes and end up on the rocks that surround the
lake. Today, the canoe races have
developed into a joust where teams compete to see who will end up in Lake
LaVerne first.
Cherry
Pies
Here’s an Iowa State tradition that
is older than VEISHEA itself. The
student-run bake sale by the ISU Department of Hotel, Restaurant, and
Institution Management has been selling the delicious cherry pie since two
years before VEISHEA came into existence.
The event originated in the 1920s during February and the cherry filling
was first selected to commemorate George Washington’s birthday. Today the sale has become one of VEISHEA’s
most marked traditions. Over 75 students
from the HRIM department donate their time to keep the ritual active in
VEISHEA. In late March, students begin
preparing for the sale by pressing dough and freezing pie crusts. Approximately 8000 pies are made and expected
to be sold until they are gone. The
money that is raised from selling the pies is used for student scholarships.
VEISHEA
Village
The very first VEISHEA open houses
were far less numerous than those of today.
Usually each college would just have one display to show the public what
the particular college was doing. As
various colleges became larger and more departments were established, there was
a dramatic increase in the number of open houses. Today’s open houses are a good way for the
community to learn what the different groups at ISU do. The open houses aren’t, however, limited to
just these Iowa State groups. Many
organizations from the Ames community participate as well. Exhibits are judged within their respective
colleges by ISU faculty and staff members.
Trophies are presented to the winners and a sweepstakes trophy is
presented to the best overall display.
Awards have also been given in the past for the most creative, most
education, and most inspiration exhibits as well. Open Houses have become a part of VEISHEA
Village, which includes the Cultural Festival, the International Food Fair, Cy’s
Big Top, and over 80 open houses.
Stars
Over VEISHEA
Stars Over VEISHEA is a musical
staged each spring through the cooperative efforts of VEISHEA and ISU
Theatre. Students are involved with all
aspects of the show, from performance to costume and set design. The Stars Over VEISHEA committee is charged
with the goal of promoting the show and working with schools and community
groups to facilitate group sales. The
Stars Over VEISHEA aides assist with costume and set construction. Stars Over VEISHEA began in 1922 and
throughout the years has highlighted each VEISHEA celebration. In the beginning, it was originally called “The
Nite Show” because the musical performances took place outdoors. They consisted of one-act musicals that were
written by students. The show was
performed in the ISU Armory with a 4000 person seating capacity. It was moved to the State Gym from 1923 to
1936 because this was one of the few locations on campus that could hold the
growing number of acts and people. In
1937, no musical was presented. In 1939,
the show was moved to Clyde William Field and given a new name, the name it continues
to hold today: Stars Over VEISHEA.
However, the type of show remained a musical and was written and directed
by students. Through the war years of
1943-1945, special war shows were presented.
After the war, Stars Over VEISHEA returned to musicals and comedies and
has remained a true highlight of VEISHEA.
In 1970, C.Y. Stephens Auditorium became the new home for SOV, which
continues to be a focal point of the annual celebration at Iowa State
University. VEISHEA and ISU Theatre now
collaborate to produce and put on the show.
Recent productions have included Bye,
Bye Birdie, The Music Man, Anything Goes and Into the Woods.
Hilton Magic
On December 2, 1971, during the midst of a cold winter,
14,510 Cyclone faithful warmed the inside of their new basketball arena. James H. Hilton Coliseum was officially
open. The men on the floor didn’t
disappoint the rabid fans, as Iowa State recorded its first victory on the
floor, trouncing Arizona, 71-54.
One thing that hasn’t changed over time is the enthusiasm
and passion for college basketball displayed by Cyclone fans. Hilton Coliseum has earned national
recognition as one of college basketball’s most electric environments. If the walls could speak, they would tell
stories depicting the Iowa State squad overcoming insurmountable odds to snatch
victory from the jaws of defeat. Fueled
by the passion of Iowa State basketball fanatics, the Cyclones have been able
to produce magic on the floor.
“Hilton Magic,” the power of the Coliseum faithful to
produce unexpected victories, was first recognized by Des Moines Register
sportswriter Buck Turnbull. On a
February 14, 1989 showdown with No. 3 Missouri, the Cyclones conjured up the
spirit of the Hilton crowd to produce a stunning 82-75 victory. The following day’s headline read “Hilton
Magic Spells ‘Upset’ One More Time.”
In the article, Turnbull called for more “Hilton Magic” in
the Cyclone’s upcoming bout with Oklahoma State, which had pummeled ISU 102-74
just three weeks earlier. On cue,
“Hilton Magic” displayed its powers, as the Cyclones defeated the Cowboys,
90-81, marking a 37-point reversal from the season’s prior meeting.
Hilton Magic was officially established and continues to pull
off amazing victories inside the coliseum walls. The student section is known as Cyclone
Alley, and is a part of the Student Alumni Association.
Campaniling
Since the story of the campanile is a love story, the
“campaniling” tradition makes sense. Today,
the original ten bells have increased to 50, and their influence has grown
exponentially. A student officially
becomes an official Iowa Stater when he or she is kissed under the campanile at
the stroke of midnight. During
Homecoming and VEISHEA, hundreds of students gather for mass campaniling. Couples kiss, the band plays, and fireworks
go off at the stroke of midnight.
Lake LaVerne/Lancelot
and Elaine
It is said that if you walk around Lake La Verne three times
in silence with your significant other, you are destined to be together.
It was the climax of VEISHEA, 1935. A large float, shaped like a swan and
carrying flower-bedecked and white-robed Iowa State maidens, emerged from a
smoke screen and glided its way to the middle of Lake LaVerne. And the plaster swan unloosed its feathered
passengers: four swans. Two of the swans
were named Lancelot and Elaine by student Jean Nesinwanger, who won $10. Since that time, there have been numerous
Lancelots and Elaines (including a pair of trumpeter swans reintroduced to
their original Iowa habitat) and in 1944, 1970, and 1971 cygnets (baby swans)
were born. Swans take a mate for life
unless one of the pair dies or is moved away.
Cyclone Nice
Iowa Filmmakers
I hope everyone gained some knowledge about our wonderful institution.
Go State!
Katie
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