The very first Odd/Even game was played in 1898. Upon entering, first-year students are assigned to one of two traditional lines. The Evenline, whose colors are blue and green, consist of students who will graduate in even-numbered years. The Oddline, whose colors are purple and yellow, consists of students who will graduate in odd-numbered years. Each line also has its own mascot. Evens have Cleo (the elephant), and Odds have Oddwina (the bear). During the first week of this tradition, tryouts take place and teams are picked. Each team then selects its song leaders, who then carry the responsibility of preparing the teams for the sing-off competition the day before the basketball game. The song leaders also supervise the creation of the class banners, as well as the writing of the class song. After two weeks of practice and songs in the dining hall, the first-year and sophomore teams meet in the gym (in front of a packed audience) for the famed game. The victors get first dibs on a side of the "smoke pit," which they paint over. The other team shares this experience and paints the other side of smoke pit. Regardless of which team wins, there is plenty of enthusiasm, and valued memories are once again added to this long-standing tradition. 

Wells Families:

Each first-year student is teamed up with a Wells student from each class to form a branch of the Wells tree. This provides each first-year the opportunity to know a unique group of students from each class year, who often do recreational activities together. Wells families are revealed in the fall by the Traditions Committee. The Traditions Committee also then plans out a designated day to host its annual Wells Families Day. During this time, each family is reunited and joined by its new family members. In the spirit of the Sycamore tree, Wells alumnae/i form the base of the tree and current Wells students are the branches—each part of the Wells family.

Tea Time:

Tea and coffee are served every weekday afternoon in Macmillan Hall’s Art Exhibit Room. Though the long dresses and china cups have long since disappeared, this break from afternoon seminars is still a great time to get together with friends and professors. 

Convocations:

Opening Convocation celebrates the beginning of the academic year and is the seniors’ first chance to wear academic gowns. A traditional part of this convocation is the candlelight ceremony. Symbolized by a candle flame, the spirit of the Wells connection is passed from alumnae/i to students, signifying the support that Wells students give one another throughout their lives. The Collegiate Cabinet plans the Convocation that opens the spring semester and welcomes students, faculty and staff back to campus after the intersession. Honors Convocation is held at the end of the year where most annual award presentations for student’s achievements are made.

Weihnachten:

To celebrate the holiday spirit that sweeps through campus each winter, the Traditions Committee organizes a traditional holiday show for all of the community to enjoy. Village residents and their children, students, faculty and staff engage in the activities that take place on the first Monday night of December. The main attractions of the night are holiday skits that are put on by the resident advisors, administrators and elves. Senior elves try to remember and re-create their first-year skit, and the new student elves work the crowd by performing theirs. Singing groups on campus such as Henry’s VIII, Appointed, and the Whirligigs are invited to sing. At the end of the evening, first-year elves introduce Santa Claus and everyone participates in singing carols over cookies and hot chocolate.

May Day:

"May Day, May Day, May First coming!" May Day is a ceremony organized by the senior and first-year classes and celebrates the "Royal Senior Court." Held on or around May 1st, the ceremony includes announcing and crowning of the Senior Royalties. The College held its first official May Day celebration in 1923. Traditionally, the May Queen came from the junior class. Elected by the student body, she was crowned by her predecessor. During the celebration poetry is read, songs are sung, and the first-year student dancers, usually dressed in white, perform a dance while wrapping the May pole.

Commencement:

Since the first graduation activities were held in 1869, Wells has hosted a distinguished Commencement ceremony accompanied by many festivities. A reception on Friday evening is held with a special concert by one of the College’s student singing groups. On the morning of Commencement, seniors ride with their families in the original Wells Fargo stagecoach to the ceremony where degrees are awarded. In the early days, essays (sometimes amusing) were delivered by the graduates on Commencement day, with musical interludes by the students; a dignitary gave the keynote address. Commencement speakers are selected by the senior class.

Moving Up Day:

Each spring, on the Monday of the last week of classes, the senior class promotes students to the next class year. This all-student occasion includes skits, songs, jokes and the pinning of the juniors with college pins.
 

CLASS YEAR TRADITIONS

First Year

First-Year Student Signs:

When first-year students arrive on campus for the first time, they receive a small piece of cloth, a piece of string and instructions, usually given by their respective resident advisors. The job of the first-year student is to make a sign from the cloth, including their name and hometown. Students are to wear these signs throughout the first week on campus, to aid the faculty and other students in knowing their names. If a student is caught without his/her sign, they can be made to sing on the senior table in the dining hall during the next meal. 

Halloween Hayride:

On or around Halloween night, the freshmen class officers are given the task of organizing a hayride for local children and community members. Weather permitting, a hayride carries groups of students around campus where rehearsed skits are performed outside the residence halls and other buildings portraying ghost stories from Wells. After the hayride, the children are invited to walk around the campus supervised by parents or students and go trick-or-treating at each of the residence halls. Students who wish to hand out candy to the children will be asked to make a small sign to put on the door to let the supervisors know where to bring the kids. Afterwards, all are invited to a party on campus for snacks and cider.

Caroling:

During the Christmas season, a few days before the start of J-Term (short for January Term), the freshmen class officers organize a multitude of Christmas events. The officers gather volunteers who wish to go caroling around the village of Aurora, making stops at the Aurora Inn and various other locations. The parade is concluded at the president’s home, where she offers cocoa and cookies to the carolers. 

Elves for Weihnachten:

During the Christmas season, the freshmen class officers gather volunteers or "elves" who, on a designated day, go to each residence hall and decorate the lobbies and common areas in the Christmas spirit. During Weihnachten, the elves are responsible for creating a skit to perform at the Sommer Center amongst all the other class skits. This gathering is open to the entire Wells community.

Talent Show:

During Spring Week, freshmen and sophomore students star in a talent show, showing off their most amazing and unique talents to Wells and to the community. The event is hosted by the sophomore class and usually takes place in Barler. 

20 Days:

During the last 20 days before the seniors graduate, the freshmen students choose 20 embarrassing things for the seniors to wear, do, say, etc. for the entire day. This is a playful revenge for freshman signs! If a freshman catches a senior not participating, that senior may be made to sing on the senior table in the dining hall.

Sophomore Year

Spring Dance:

To welcome in the warm weather the sophomore class hosts an annual Spring Dance for Wells students and their guests. This event usually takes place in the Sommer Center in March.

Sophomore Smash:

This annual event is run by the FARGO Board (Friends And Recent Graduates Organization). They throw an appreciation and bonding event during the first semester. Also, sophomores receive their Wells ivy plant which is symbolic of their growth, time and success at Wells.

Sycamore Tree:

On the last day of classes, seniors (in their robes) are joined by fellow students and administration on the front lawn of Main where they dance and sing around the old Sycamore tree. After all the excitement, the sophomores present the seniors with roses to commend them on their accomplishments. 

Junior Year

Junior Mugs:

At the end of sophomore year, students receive their personalized ceramic mugs in celebration of being juniors. These mugs are christened at Junior Blast and then used for champagne breakfast during their senior year and other traditions. 

Junior Blast:

In the spring, the junior class throws themselves a party—Junior Blast! During the party, the first-year students secretly sneak a junior’s mattress out of her or his room and leave it in a hidden place to be found with clues. Depending on the bribing tactics of each junior to first-years, finding the wanted mattress may prove to be a difficult but always fun task.

Junior Stunt: 

At the end of each spring semester, the junior class creates skits making fun of the seniors. The hilarity is open for the entire student body to watch.

Senior Year

Senior Auction:

At the end of the spring semester, seniors compile a list of individual attributes that they auction off to their fellow students. The basis of this tradition is to exchange an item or a service to raise funds that will benefit the senior class. Some services include cleaning dorm rooms, holding study sessions, and possibly making home-cooked meals.

Caps and Gowns:

Seniors wear academic gowns on the first and last day of classes each semester, at champagne breakfast, convocations, Odd/Even game and sing, 20 Days, and at Moving Up Day.

Minerva:

Outside of Main, the College’s first building, sits the lovely statue of the Roman Goddess Minerva. Symbolizing wisdom, craft, wit and intellect, the senior class does the honor of decorating Minerva at the beginning of the fall semester. Minerva remains decorated throughout the school year; then during the morning of the last day of classes and after singing around the Sycamore tree, the senior class takes turns kissing the feet of Minerva, believed to be good luck and bring success and prosperity to all graduation seniors. 

Sycamore Tree:

On the last day of classes, seniors in their robes are joined by fellow students and administration on the front lawn of Main where they dance and sing around the old Sycamore tree. The sophomores present the seniors with roses to commend them on their accomplishments, then everyone proceeds to the dining hall where they are cheerfully served breakfast by the administration. Before going inside the seniors stop to kiss Minerva’s feet.
 

PROGRAMMING BOARD TRADITIONAL ANNUAL PROGRAMS

Disco Dodge:

This annual event is held in the lounge of Dodge Residence Hall early in the fall semester. Wells students and their guests dance the night away to ’70s music and compete for best costume in their finest polyester attire.

Semi-Formal:

In November, students and their guests participate in an elegant soiree with the chance to dress in formal attire and enjoy a candlelit dinner. Following dinner, a performance by one of the singing groups is held in the Chapel. After the performance, students head to the dining hall to dance the night away.

Mainly ’80s:

Mainly ’80s is the perfect chance to break out the spandex and funky hairstyles and dance the night away. Held in the basement of Main Building, Mainly ’80s is the time where students dress in their best ’80s attire and cut "footloose" to live tunes of the ’80s! The night is also filled with hula-hoops, break dancing and lip sync contests.
 

INSTITUTIONAL LORE

Bells:

The bells in Main Building’s tower are rung to announce dinner every night, on the arrival of the first snowflakes, and other special events. Alumnae often request them rung in honor of a wedding, birth of a child, or other momentous life occasion.

Singing:

When a Wells student deserves special recognition for an election, birthday, or other accomplishment, friends will often sing the "Wells Congratulation Song" which goes as follows:

Oh (name of student) we sing to you
You are so good and true
We’ll all be loyal to you
We’ll raise your name
And praise you, too
And so we sing to dear Wells and you, hey!

Rings:

Each semester, members of the upper classes may order the traditional onyx and gold Wells College ring. The ring symbolizes the memories that Wells provides. Modeled after Henry Wells’ own signet ring, it was originally gold with black onyx. However, students have the option of having their ring made in silver.

Lake Freezes Over: 

Should Cayuga Lake freeze over, no classes are held that day and a formal holiday pronouncement is made.