DAY IN THE LIFE
Villanova Yearbook, 1969
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Long Standing Traditions
Homecoming
Homecoming included a pep rally, bonfires, parade, and dance. A long tradition of decorating halls continued into the 1960s; the prize for best decoration was known as the Nick Basca Award.
Frosh Initiation
(Main Line Times, September 4, 1968. Villanova Scrapbooks, Villanova University Archives)
A popular tradition of the upperclass students was initiation activities against the freshman. Since the 1920s, the tradition was deem controversial by many students, who denounced it as humiliating, but initiation practices continued into the 1960s.
(Belle Air Yearbook, 1963)
Junior Week
(The Villanovan, vol. 37. no. 19, Junior Week, 1962)
Junior Week, began in 1924, would take place the second week of May and this was whenJuniors would originally receive their college blazers. Over the years it would expand to a week long celebration.
Mother’s Day
Mother's Day on campus started in 1934 in conjugation with Junior Week; Mothers were invited to campus the Monday after Mother's Day. There would be contests, like the Diaper Dan Contest, a luncheon, and special Mother's Day service.
(The Villanovan, vol. 37. no. 19, Junior Week, 1962)
(The Villanovan, vol. 40, no.19, April 7, 1965)
Shamokinaki Dance
One popular annual dance was the Shamokinaki Dance (1953-1967), held at the Field House. The dance was a fundraising event for Augustinian missionaries in Japan.Tickets would be sold at the Pie Shoppe for $2.00 per couple.
(The Villanovan, vol. 38, no. 15, March 6, 1963)
The name of the dance derived from the hometown of Rev Thomas P. Purcell, O.S.A., a former faculty member and missionary, who was from Shamokin, Pennsylvania.
(VUA 35/22/5 Villanova Photograph Collection)
Belle Masque Society
Since the 1920s, Belle Masque Society was a theater club on campus that performed productions throughout the school year. The club would include students from Villanova and Rosemont.
Twelfth Night, 1960 (VUA 35/22/12 Villanova Photograph Collection)
The Apple Tree program, 1969 (VUA 25/12 Student Clubs and Organizations Records)
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