Bryn Mawr College

Students present gifts to the statue of Athena in return for good luck and wisdom. Upperclassmen must also seek her forgiveness if they set foot on the senior steps or walk down senior row. you can find Athena in the corner of Thomas Great Hall.

Each dorm has a box or space for students to deposit clothes or anything else that they want to get rid of. It is a common practice for students to go “free box shopping” by going through these boxes and taking out anything they would like. The boxes overflow at the end of each semester as students are clearing out their belongings and packing for home. Items that are not picked up by students are sent to a charity organization.

Each senior chooses a garden party girl to host her garden party, a reception for the family and friends after graduation. The garden party girl reserves space for the garden party, sets up chairs, then decorates it to make it as festive and celebratory as possible. Bryn Mawr caters the event on the Wyndham and Erdman lawns.

Taking place just between the start of second semester and spring break, this major tradition provides a welcome break for freshmen and upperclassmen. Freshmen pair up with sophomore “hellers” who prepare a list of fun, wacky tasks for the freshmen to do during the week. Freshmen also choose sympathetic juniors who shower them with treats as the tasks are performed. This tradition, though seemingly intimidating to some, is intended to strengthen bonds between the classes.

Freshmen, dressed in bath robes, march into the cloisters to be presented with lanterns in their class color. The upperclassmen, also dressed in bath robes, sing to the freshmen, and the freshmen, if they have taken the time to learn it, sing Pallas Athena back. After they have received their lantern, juniors serve the freshmen hot chocolate, and everyone heads to the senior steps for a step sing.

Seniors honor friends in the other classes by leaving a gift at their door the night before May Day. Seniors can give a gift of their own or continue a tradition of a gift that was passed down to them in a previous year.

The first tradition of the year, Parade Night, occurs in the evening after the first day of classes. Freshmen storm through the Arch, and sophomores drench them with water. Once they pass the sophomores, the freshmen are rewarded by the juniors who give them candy. The tradition is concluded with the year's first step sing.

The Academic Honor Code makes it possible for students to take self-scheduled exams during exam periods. When you are finished studying, students get their exam in Taylor or Park and complete it in a classroom before returning it to a student proctor outside.

When they have finished the last bit of written work and turned in the last exam, seniors race up the steps of Taylor to ring the bell at the top of belfry. The bell is heavy and sometimes takes a few students to pull, but its sound can be heard across campus throughout finals week.

The Feminist news source on campus sets up a table each spring and encourages students to vent about what they wish would happen at Bryn Mawr. They then publish all of the responses, which express both general good wishes to all and specific desires for change. The issue is organized by topics and effectively sums up many sentiments on campus.