2009 Notebook Homepage

The only thing stronger (and sometimes scarier) than Philly pride is the passion college students have for their schools.

From hoodies to pennants, sweatshirt blankets to stuffed mascots, Philly campuses overflow with love and admiration for their soon-to-be alma maters. And during sports seasons, forget it. Local college teams—especially football and basketball—are relentless in their rivalries.

In their final act of devotion, seniors seek out that one thing to do before they graduate that will forever solidify their connection to their college.

Here are a few ways to leave your mark before you toss your cap.

Bryn Mawr College: Take a dip in the Cloisters Fountain.

In addition to breaking curfew and smoking, actress Katharine Hepburn admitted to swimming in the fountain after dark when she was a student at Bryn Mawr back in the 1920s. To this day, many liberal ladies have followed Hepburn’s lead and clocked some strokes of their own.

Cabrini College: Uncover the mystery of The Mansion.

The Mansion is a historic and beautiful part of the campus; it was once home to the Campbell’s Soup family. Cabrini is known for its ghosts and the most haunted building on the grounds has to be The Mansion. The basement is difficult to gain access to, but the majority of the building is easy to get to and interesting to explore. But if you do happen to make it to the basement, beware.

Chestnut Hill College: Attend a Quidditch match.

Are you a fan of Harry Potter? Akin to Gryffindor house, the Chestnut Hill College Griffins played their first intramural Quidditch match on October 10, 2008. The Vice President of Student Activities viewed a video of other students playing Quidditch and wanted to bring the game to Chestnut Hill. The Griffins even traveled to Middlebury College in Vermont to participate in the Intercollegiate World Cup where they played various colleges including Vassar, Princeton, Boston University, Emerson, Rochester, Louisiana State University, University of Massachusetts, Carlow, and Green Mountain College.

Community College of Philadelphia: Visit the Philadelphia U.S. Mint.

From 1901 until 1969, the third location of the Philadelphia mint was located at 1700 Spring Garden Street in the building that now serves as the main campus of CCP. The mint is currently located on Independence Mall and is open daily for tours.

Drexel University: Take a photo with Mario.

Stop by 33rd and Market and climb aboard Mario the Magnificent. Drexel’s dragon mascot was named after alumus Mario V. Mascioli who graduated in 1945. A word of advice: be sure to make certain that the steam is off before you strike a pose. That dragon can get pretty hot and burn something awful.

Haverford College: Take a picture with the 13 MPH sign.

Most colleges have speed restrictions for safety purposes. But 13 MPH? Talk about unique! The number 13 can be lucky for some, but is traditionally ill-fated. Nevertheless, Haverford has about five different 13 MPH signs along the campus roads.

La Salle University: Put "The Affirmation" to Music.

The Explorers can tell you that "The Affirmation" (a kind of declaration made by La Salle students) has been drilled into their heads since the first day they set foot on campus. Why not spice it up a bit? Maybe creating a score to go along with the simple statement will help keep the ideals and morals part of your life even after graduation.

Moore College of Art & Design: Campaign to Bring Back the Costume Ball.

The earliest recollection anyone has of the elusive Costume Ball is the early 1900s. The Costume Ball was originally held to honor the textile design major, which was the first major Moore ever had. But when the college was on the verge of eliminating the major, the Costume Ball fell by the wayside. Today, the textile design major is fully intact. But sadly, the Costume Ball is only a memory.

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts: Uncover the Mysetery of Thomas Eakins.

The Philly artist was an alumnus and former teacher at PAFA who faced widely-publicized criticism over his radial teaching methods. In the 80s, the school secured the largest collection of his works, a good number of which reside in the on-site museum. Perhaps you can unravel the mind of an artist so famous he has part of the Parkway named for him (Eakins Oval).

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine: Visit ATL.

In 2005, PCOM expanded south to Gwinnett County, Georgia. Located just north of downtown Atlanta, the campus mirrors Philly’s in curriculum and activities. Show them how we do in the north and impart some knowledge on your southern sister school.

Philadelphia University: Choose a cheesesteak.

Philly U is right down the road from two of the greatest cheesesteak joints in the city—Dalessandro’s and Chubby’s. While there is no official rivalry between the two (like their South Philly counterparts, Pat’s and Geno’s), they are still very much in battle for your taste buds. The restaurants are right across the street from one another so most times it comes down to flipping a coin. Pledge your loyalties now!

Rutgers University – Camden: Hang out on the Waterfront.

The Camden Waterfront is a must—it’s right around the corner from campus and literally has something for everyone. You can take in a Riversharks baseball game at Campbell’s Field, visit the sharks at Adventure Aquarium, see a concert at Susquehanna Bank Center or take the ferry over to Philly for the day.

Saint Joseph’s University: Take in the view from the bell tower.

SJU's Barbelin/Lonegran Hall is built upon Philadelphia's highest geographical location; its familiar four-spired bell tower is visible from miles away. While the tower doesn’t house an actual bell, you might get lucky and discover the inspiration behind the nickname of “Hawk Hill.”

Swarthmore College: Dance and Sing to Madonna’s “Like a Prayer.”

At any proper Swattie get-together, expect to hear the unofficial Swarthmore anthem ringing out through the speakers. True Swarthmore students will break out in Madonna-esque dance movies and of course, every student knows the lyrics. No one really knows how this tradition came about, but it has remained a part of Swattie tradition for years.

Temple University: Learn the entire TU fight song.

Basketball and football are life for the Owls; it’s hard to ignore the fact that Temple is a huge sports school. But even if athletics are not your thing, the Temple University Fight Song, "Fight! Temple, Fight!" can be sung during any occasion where school spirit is surging.

The University of the Arts: See a performance at the Merriam Theater.

It isn’t every day that a college can lay claim to a nationally recognized theater. But the Merriam Theater is a beloved member of the UArts family. Not only does the theater host popular productions, but the upstairs areas are used for a number of classes and educational courses.

Thomas Jefferson University: Visit the original "Gross Clinic."

The 1875 Thomas Eakins painting, "The Gross Clinic" hung in the halls of the University from 1876 until 2006. In 2007, it was purchased jointly by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. A replica of the painting still hangs in Jefferson, but why settle for a copy when the original is right down the street? Eakins work will be displayed at both institutions on a rotating basis.

University of Pennsylvania: Rock out at Spring Fling.

Spring Fling at Penn is probably the most famous of all the end of the year college blowouts. The Fling has been going strong since 1972, and each year thousands of students descend onto the Quad, Hill Square, College Green and Wynn Commons to dance, eat and party. With the huge Pavilion concert hosting chart-topping bands and the Quad concerts, which showcase some of the hottest local bands and performers, music is definitely the center piece of the Fling.

Villanova University: Attend the Nova/Georgetown game.

Many know that Georgetown is Villanova’s biggest rival; each year, the match-up is nothing less than exciting. For big games like this, expect tickets to go quick, so reserve your seat in advance and gear up for Nova Nation.