There is a lot to know about UC Berkeley as an institution and a campus, which holds a rich history and propels an innovative present. But there is a lot you may not know about the inner workings of this school, which is where I come in: to tell you about all of UC Berkeley’s superstitions and traditions!
For the GPA
Most of us know the baseline campus superstitions for academic survival. Rule number one: Don’t step on the seal! If you happen to accidentally step on it, run as fast as you can to the 4.0 Ball next to the Campanile to reverse your bad luck. After obliviously stepping on the seal countless times during my first semester as a student, I had to roll down 4.0 Hill at least a dozen more to try and purify my GPA from my evil missteps. Although between us, I’m pretty sure the school made up the rumor to keep the seals looking fresh.
Some lesser-known superstitions can be found at the entrance of Doe Library and in the lungs of dorm-residing students. An oxidized statue of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, gazes down at the students passing through the front entrance of Doe. If you enter the doors underneath her, she will bless you with her profound wisdom. But don’t dare to leave the library through the same doors; if you do, legend has it she will take away everything you just learned during your library study session! This is one of the reasons why students take alternative routes when exiting the library. Finally, screaming every midnight of dead week is a newer tradition at UC Berkeley; although some students despise this for ruining their shut-eye before an important day, others enjoy the excuse to release their pent-up studying frustration. It’s up to you whether you wish to participate or protest!
Animals in Berkeley: What remains and what’s remembered
Berkeley has lots of great wildlife. Many of us have seen a passing deer or stag, raccoons and maybe even the peregrine falcons. But did you know that some animals have been able to preserve their paw print on campus forever?
Starting off strong with the only dog to earn a sociology degree from UC Berkeley, it’s Igor Fetch! Back in the 1970s, a group of students in Bowles Hall enrolled their beloved pup for class. They got his picture taken for the yearbook, and Igor’s owner even graciously took the dog’s exams for him! Igor then graduated with honors with a sociology degree, and to this day, his grave proclaims that he was “A True Bowlesman And Friend.” Another legendary campus dog, Ludwig, was a water-loving doggy who spent every morning splashing about in the fountain near the Martin Luther King, Jr. Student Union. He was a great joy to many, and the fountain was named Ludwig 1961 in his honor.
Now this is less of a superstition, but did you know we do have more than 640,000 preserved and taxidermied animals in our campus Museum of Vertebrate Zoology? That’s some pretty freaky stuff! This doesn’t even include our vast bug reservoir: We have the second largest collection after UC Davis (the only thing in which they have us beat).
Everyone knows Oski, UC Berkeley’s mascot, but did you know that he wasn’t always our beloved bear? Originally, the school had live bear cubs as a mascot, but the cubs would grow up to become, well, huge adult bears who weren’t that cute anymore. So the school decided to solve this issue with a bear costume instead. William “Rocky” Rockwell, an editor from the best student-run newspaper, The Daily Californian, was the designer and first person to play the role of Oski. However, Oski didn’t get his name until a Cal Football cheer began to erupt at games, with students chanting “Oski wow wow! Whiskey wee wee”! Don’t ask me what that cheer means; I truly have no idea. But the student body loved it so much the new bear mascot officially became Oski.
Extra: Not-so-traditional traditions that everyone still does
Lastly, I have some traditions that I believe every UC Berkeley student has participated in, or should check off their list before they graduate. I believe that the hike up to the Big “C” offers one of the best views overlooking Berkeley and the Bay, and you can do it all while swinging off of a tree! It’s much closer to the campus than other hikes around Berkeley, and conquering its super steep trails makes for a worthwhile accomplishment. Another steep activity that requires slightly less walking is climbing to the top of the Campanile. I recently learned that the Campanile is such a Berkeley icon that it’s trademarked, so make the most of your free pass as a student and immerse yourself in the view and the beautiful bells. It’s not everyday you can go up the second-tallest bell tower in the world!
Getting a piping hot dog from Top Dog on a cold Saturday at 2 a.m. is one of the best feelings ever. Top Dog has been serving night owl UC Berkeley students since 1966, and there’s a good reason why it’s been able to stay in business all these years. The top-notch chefs grill $5 dogs right in front of you, providing a great assortment of toppings and condiments to choose from. Whenever I’m craving something savory in the middle of the night, Top Dog is always there to warm my hands and satisfy my hunger.
I’m personally not a football fan, but I know that one day I’ll have to go to the Big Game. My last tradition of this piece involves a handoff at the end of the annual Big Game: the winner gets the Stanford Axe. Over the years, Berkeley and Stanford students alike have taken turns attempting to steal the Axe back from the victorious school, but it is now tightly secured as a token trophy. The handoff at the end of the Big Game is a huge deal for both bragging rights and keeping up tradition.
Now you know UC Berkeley inside and out, and for the sake of continuing our school’s prestigious reputation and keeping up a proud student body, I hope you will partake in these traditions and superstitions to maintain your GPA and to graduate with honors — just like Igor.