ONE NEED only spend a few minutes on Grounds to realize that the University is a very different place to go to school. In my own estimation, traditions set the student experience apart. Indeed, traditions are fundamental to University student life. Why? Because they bring us together under an identity shared by all members of the University community, past and present.
With some help from dictionary.com, I propose the following definition for a University tradition: a recurring pattern of beliefs and practices unique to the University, fundamentally accessible and beneficial to all those in the University community. As an example, one tradition is our unique language: We have Grounds, not a campus. The University is capitalized. Our founder is Mr. Jefferson, not Thomas Jefferson. We have first years, not freshmen. We refer to professors as "Mister," "Miss" or "Mrs." -- not doctor.
Language is important. It reflects our way of thinking and our beliefs. Each of the admittedly quirky words above has a reason: One never ceases learning, so one can never be truly "senior" at it (or at least, not at age 22). The title of mister or ms represents a far more accessible relationship than doctor -- and so on.
Besides language, though, the University is chock-full of other traditions that shape the student experience. Two are particularly near to my heart. First, we have an honor system that permeates student life to a far greater degree than any other large public university and even most small schools. Those new to the University will soon learn that honor is one of the most discussed topics around these grounds -- and rightfully so. Although the intricacies of operating an honor system may invoke a range of opinions, few would question the virtue of a code of conduct that encourages students to live with integrity.
Second, we truly believe in student self-governance. As students, we have substantial control over the way our school works, the way student fees are distributed, and the way our peers are disciplined. The degree of self-governance is a tradition peculiar to the University. I should pause to note the fragility of maintaining this tradition. It would be far easier to hire a dean to do what the University Judiciary Committee does, for example. But the University believes that students can govern themselves with equal effectiveness. More than that, it allows students to learn in the process. Isn't that why we're students in the first place?
Traditions come and go. Doubtlessly, some traditions should die -- the "tradition" of a homogenous white, male university, for example. And new ones are born -- the long-standing joke is that University students need only do something twice to call it a tradition. The Lighting of the Lawn celebration each December is a worthy addition to our repertoire of traditions. How do we tell which traditions should live and which should stay? Returning to my definition above, I propose this test: If a tradition helps us express a shared identity and is ultimately accessible and beneficial to all those within our University community, it is a good thing.
I am impressed by the ability of the University community -- particularly the student leadership--to parse out the good traditions from the bad over time. Six years ago, Student Council President Abby Fifer was among a group of students who sought to end an unofficial chant inserted into the "Good Ol' Song." The chant was derogatory; it was not a tradition accessible to all students. Through a healthy dialogue among students, the false tradition ended. Today all students can identify with the tradition of the "Good Ol' Song."
Lauren Tilton, the Student Council president, astutely observed that there is a distinction between being traditional and true tradition. Not all things done over and over are worthy of being a called tradition. Some of the "traditional" parts of the University have unfairly excluded people from real community. Although there is still tremendous work to be done, the University has made impressive strides in including women, minority students, and students of all socio-economic backgrounds.
Real tradition should bind us closer together and help us express our shared commonalities. The true traditions I noted above are available to everyone: We can all celebrate the University's unique jargon, we can all believe in the virtue of acting with integrity, we can all appreciate the benefits of governing ourselves through democratic institutions. By and large, our traditions are a positive part of our University culture. Those who are new to the University should learn about the University's traditions, discuss them, and -- whenever appropriate -- embrace them. Traditions are fundamental to what it means to be a community and identify with an institution as enriching as the University of Virginia.
Wa-Hoo-Wa.
Carey J. Mignerey is the student member of the Board of Visitors and a Cavalier Daily contributing writer.
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