User:Redandwhiterpi/Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Tradition

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Traditions encompass many aspects of life at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest technological university in North America.

Historical traditions / Events

Calculus Cremation

The calculus cremation was a tradition started in 1865. The dreaded calculus course was taken by a class as a unit and the cremation marked the end of the semester. In January, following the end of the calculus course, the students would publish an obituary describing the time and the place the cremation. These obituaries were often very detailed and elaborate with students making up stories about “Bowser Calculus the German Spy” or “His Majesty King Bowser Calculus.” The “mourners” would dress in black or white hooded cloaks and march to the burning site carrying lit torches and coffins of calculus books. This ritual was a celebration of the ending of the horror that was calculus class.

Cane Rush

The Cane Rush first came to RPI in 1874. This event took place during the first week of the school year, and served to initiate freshmen into college life. It was preceded by a five inning baseball game: sophomores versus freshman. After the game, all members took their shirts off and greased their bodies with Vaseline and axle grease to make themselves hard to catch by the other team. The starting position consisted of two men from each class year holding onto a hickory cane while the rest of the class members formed two lines 50 yards away on either side. The shot of a pistol started the battle and everyone rushed to the cane. The game only lasted 7 minutes and the team with the most hands touching the cane at this time was declared the winner. The winning team carved their class year into the cane. If the freshman won, they earned the right to carry canes before Presidents Day. This date was later pushed up to the Parade during the first home football game. As the years went on, the sophomores began to focus more on pulling the freshman’s pants down than getting a hand on the cane. In 1918 students began to strip down entirely at the beginning of the game and the event was thereby known as the Grease Rush.

Cane Rush Rules: Section 1. There shall be an annual cane rush between the Sophomore and Freshman Classes on the first convenient Saturday of the first term.

Section 2. The Rush shall be held immediately after a five-inning baseball game between the Sophomore and Freshman Classes at a place designated by the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal shall notify the presidents of the Sophomore and Freshman Classes of the time and place of the rush at least twenty-four hours before the rush is called.

Section 3. The Grand Marshal shall decide the rush and announce publicly the number of hands on the cane.

Section 4. The cane shall be the traditional cane rush stick and shall be held by four men, two from each class. The remainder of the opposing classes shall line up on opposite sides of the cane each at a distance of fifty yards from it. At a signal from the referee the classes shall rush for possession of the cane. At the end of seven minutes the hands on the cane shall be counted, a thumb and finger being counted as a hand. The class having the most hands on the cane shall be declared the winner.

Each contestant shall enter the rush with at least a pair of trousers and soft soled shoes.

Section 5. The members of the winning class shall be allowed to carry canes in the Institute Parade on the day of the first home football game. The members of the other classes shall not carry canes on that day.

Flag Rush

The winning team of the Cane Rush was allowed to put their class year on a flag that was carried in the institute parade. The losing team would try to steal that flag before the parade began. This caused the inspiration for the Flag Rush which became a separate event of capture the flag. The event took place on a school day and lasted from noon to 8:00 pm. The flag had to remain within 3 miles of the Carnegie building at all times. In 1904 the freshman class put their flag on a tugboat in the Hudson River and guarded it by spraying the sophomores with a hose. After this, a rule was added that the flag bust be “stationary, conspicuous, and accessible.” If the freshman were able to defend their flag for the allotted time, they were declared the winners. In 1914 the freshman put their flag on top of a gatehouse tower in the Watervliet Reservoir. Many students fell from ladders in an attempt to reach the flag and one almost drowned. This caused the Flag Rush to be abolished after 1916. A similar event was instated in the 1950s during Freshman Week and was called the Banner Rush.

Flag Rush Rules: Section 1. The flag rush must begin on a scholastic day of the first term between noon and 8:00 p.m.

Section 2. The rush shall be held at some place exterior to the boundary of Institute property and within three miles of the Carnegie building.

Section 3. Upon the request of the Freshman class through some representative, the Grand Marshal shall appoint a referee from the Senior class. The identity of this referee shall only be disclosed to the above mentioned representative of the Freshman class and the referee so chosen.

Section 4. The Freshmen may locate the flag at any place within boundaries mentioned in Article IV, Section 2 provided that the flag be stationary, conspicuous and accessible from the time of posting of the notice until the completion of the rush. All means for detection of the location of the flag are accorded to the Sophomores. The word stationary shall be interpreted as meaning immovable with respect to the earth, boats or vehicles of any kind not being considered stationary under any circumstances.

1913 TransitSection 5. The flag shall be made of white cloth, not less than twelve inches by eighteen inches in size and shall have the class year painted conspicuously upon it. The use of dummy flags is prohibited, the Freshmen being allowed to post one flag only. Violation of this rule shall cause the rush to be forfeited to the Sophomores.

Section 6. After the referee has seen the flag in place, the Freshmen class through their representative accompanied by a Junior appointed by the referee shall post a notice stating the challenge to the Sophomores as provided for in Article IV,

Section 7. The time of posting of the notice shall be reported by the Junior above mentioned to the referee and shall be the time of commencement of the rush and must be within the limits provided for in Article IV, Section I.

Section 8. The notice shall be on white paper not less than four inches by five inches in size, and shall be posted on the Sophomore bulletin board of the Carnegie if the west door of said building is unlocked, otherwise it may be posted on said door.

Section 9. If the Freshmen maintain the flag in accordance with the foregoing rules for twenty-three hours from the time of posting the notice they shall be declared the winners, otherwise the Sophomore shall be declared the winners.

Hill Rush

The Hill Rush was a tradition that first started in 1911. It was very short lived as it only lasted until 1915. The Rush was held the evening after the Cane Rush and was an event of sophomores and juniors versus freshman. It took place on Grand Street between 7th and 8th Streets after a short parade. The freshman waited on the corner as the upperclassmen took their places on the hill. At the start signal the freshman made their way up the slippery surface of sand and mud. During the 20 minutes the game took place, the upperclassman proceeded to hinder their process any way they could. If at the end of the allotted time, more than 20% of the freshman class made it up the hill, they were declared the winners. This Rush may have been related to the Stair Rush which took place in earlier years.

Hill Rush Rules: Section 1. A hill rush shall be held during the evening after the cane rush in accordance with the following rules.

Section 2. The Rush shall take place on Grand Street between Seventh and Eighth streets.

Section 3. At 8:00 p.m. the Seniors, Juniors and Freshmen shall leave the gymnasium, marching through Seventh Street to Grand Street. The Freshmen shall wait at the corner of Grand and Seventh streets until the Seniors and Juniors have taken their places along the curb and the street is clear. At a signal from the Referee after the street has been cleared the Freshmen shall start up the hill. The Sophomores may attack them any time after the head of the Freshmen line shall have reached the east line of Institute alley. The Sophomores shall not be permitted East of the east curb of Eighth Street. The rush shall continue twenty minutes from the time the Referee gives the signal to the Freshmen to start up the hill. If at the end of that time one-fifth or more of the Freshmen who were in line at the time the Referee gave the signal to start, have reported to the Referee or his representative on the east sidewalk of Eighth street at the head of Grand Street, the Freshmen shall be declared the winners, otherwise the Sophomore shall be declared the winners.

Section 4. No ropes, chains or similar articles shall be used in this rush by either class.

Section 5. Any Freshmen who reports to the Referee or his representative a second time or who has not come up Grand Street from Seventh street between curb lines during the progress of the rush shall cause ten men to be subtracted from the number who have reported to the Referee.

Sleigh Rush

This tradition was again an event between the sophomores and freshman. Around Christmas, the freshman class took a sleigh ride to Albany for a class dinner. The sophomores attempted to beat them to Albany to eat the dinner set out. The freshman posted a notice that they were going to have their Albany Dinner to let the sophomores know that the rush had begun. The sophomores barricaded roads, build bonfires, and chased the freshman sleigh in order to halt the trip. If the sophomores ever caught up, they would attempt to take position of the sleigh. In this scuffle the sleigh was often destroyed.

Sleigh Rush Rules: 1. The freshmen most post a notice, informing the "sophs" that they are going to have their supper and ride, and they must start within forty-eight hours after the notice is posted.

2. They must leave Troy and return to Troy in their own sleigh.

GM Week

Main article: Grand Marshal (RPI)

The Grand Marshal position was first created in 1865 to honour Albert M. Harper for his dedication to the school, service to the country, and wisdom beyond his years. Harper first entered RPI as class of 1864; however, he took a leave from school to enter in the Civil War. After much success in the army, he decided to return to school as a member of the class of 1866. The students respected and admired Harper, giving him the honor of the first Grand Marshal of RPI. The GM was regarded as the leader of the entire student body and had jurisdiction over all events. The GM fostered a sense of school spirit and was a member of all union committees.

The GM and the President of the Union were elected on a date in the spring semester chosen by the Student Council. Potential candidates needed a formal nomination including at least 25 signatures submitted ten days prior to elections. The concept of having parties was endorsed but there were frequent changes in names and affiliations. In 1890 a student union was formed and the position of President of the Union was viewed as the head of the student body. There seemed no need for the position of GM so it was abolished from 1890-1893. The position was reinstated to promote school spirit.

The election of GM and PU became a celebratory time. On the evening of elections, after the freshman had cleaned up all the campaign posters, students gathered at the Approach for the announcement of the election results. The new GM was given a top hat, the symbol of office, and the reveal was followed by a parade through Troy. During the parade the freshmen wore nightshirts while the upperclassmen made an attempt to strip them of their clothes. This event was an initiation into their upcoming sophomore year. The celebration culminated on North Field with refreshments and prizes. This celebratory night became a week full of activities and gatherings as the years passed.

NRB/Freshmen Week

In order to introduce the incoming RPI students, the sophomores initiated the freshman in various events throughout the first week of school. After freshman orientation the students attended a freshman camp. This camp was originally held at Burden Lake but was moved to Silver Bay on Lake George in later years. There were many activities, sports, songs, and cheers at camp. This camping tradition took place from 1936 to 1955 when it was moved back to campus due to the increase in size of the incoming class. In 2001, the program called Navigating Rensselaer and Beyond (NRB) brought students back off campus for overnight trips.

The Frosh Smoker was the freshman week kickoff event. This gave freshman the chance to mingle with faculty and upperclassmen with entertainment and cigarettes provided. During this celebration the freshman handbook was distributed and the freshman learned RPI songs. Other events taking place during the week included the baseball game, tug of war, grease rush, hill rush, banner rush, and march to Sage. The week ended with the Phalanx Dance.

Rensselaer Dances

Frosh Fling

The Frosh Fling was started by the class of 1943 as a replacement for the annual banquet. The first frosh fling occurred in 1940 after Grand Marshall Elections. Although named the frosh fling, the informal event was open to the entire campus.

Interfraternity Ball

This ball put on by the Interfraternity Council (IFC) was the highlight of all social events for Greek Life. Held in October, it was the biggest dance of the fall semester. In the 1950s the Ball was named the Harvest Moon Ball because it was held in October, usually after a home football game. Fraternities held booths for the event, a queen was elected and crowned, and the dance was then followed by fraternity parties lasting the night.

Snowflake Saturnalia

The Snowflake Saturnalia was the main event during a winter festival tradition which began in 1949. It was held on campus during a weekend in February and included many winter themed events. The Junior class presented the Snowflake Saturnalia. At the dance, a queen and court were crowned to reign over the weekend events. These events included a snow sculpture contest, a ski meet, a hockey game, plays, concerts, movies, and fraternity parties. The weekend gained popularity until the 1970s when it died out.

Junior Prom

The Junior Prom was established by the class of 1919 and became known as the biggest social event of the year for the junior class. The prom was organized by a committee and held in December. The dress was formal and a popular band was hired for entertainment. Students attending voted for a queen and court of the dance.

RPI Union Hops

These small “Hops” first started in 1932 and were held frequently throughout the school year. These dances took place in the old Union Clubhouse, the ’87 Gym, or the 15th St Lounge and often followed football and basketball games. The Hops were organized by a committee consisting of members from each class.

Phalanx Dance

This dance took place at the end of freshman week in September and served to introduce the new students to girls from the nearby girl’s colleges. The Phalanx Dance was held in the ‘87 Gym and campus groups like “The Campus Serenaders” provided the entertainment. The Members of phalanx set up blind dates for the 450 freshman based on height and age. This event was an introduction to RPI social life and survived even after other freshmen week events were abolished.

Sophomore Soiree

The Sophomore Soiree, a dance that originated as the Sophomore Banquet, was first held on April 24, 1908. The Soiree was initially held at the Ten Eyck Hotel in Albany, but eventually moved to locations on campus including the Pittsburg Building, the Armory, and the Houston Field House. The dance was considered the largest social event of the year. Bands were hired to provide the entertainment and a Soiree queen was crowned each year. The Interfraternity council took over the planning of the event in the 1960s.

Symbols of the institute

Rensselaer Flag

The first flag of the Institute was designed by Palmer C. Ricketts a few years after the seal was created, around 1910. He described it as: “ a rectangle divided by a diagonal into two triangles, one cherry and one white, with the letters R.P.I. crossing the diagonal, the parts of the letters on the white background being cherry and the parts of the cherry background being white.” Years later, Palmer Ricketts changed the original flag to white with a red Institute seal and red fringe.

The current flag was created in conjunction with the Class of ’94 class gift. Designs were first drafted in 1993, most of them much simpler than the current flag. After talking with the President, the coat of arms began to be included in the drafts in late 1993-1994. The final artwork for the flag was created by Marty Satalino of Envision Digital Design (in Troy) and completed on April 25, 1994. The exact colors used (using the Pantone Matching System) are PMS codes 116 gold, 185 red, 300 blue, and a black overprint.

The design is based on the coat of arms of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, the first emblem of the Institute, and the current Institute logotype. The flag is divided into four quadrants, the upper left quadrant red and the rest white:

• In the red upper left quadrant, there is the cross Moline, the heraldic sign of the Van Rensselaers. It is modeled after the cross in the stained-glass window depiction and similarly placed on a red background.
• In the lower left quadrant, the three coronets are the arms of the Van Wenckum family (family of Kiliaen’s paternal grandmother)
• In the upper right corner, the arms are those of Kiliaen’s mother, Maria Pafraet. The stars were added at a later time, originally six-pointed as depicted in the current flag, but at one point they were changed to five-pointed stars.
• In the lower right corner, there are the chevrons, the symbol of the family of Kiliaen’s maternal grandmother.

The flag is in four colors (red, black, blue, and gold), like the original Institute Seal in the archives. The current flag was first flown when it was raised in front of the Houston Field House at the 188th commencement exercises on May 20, 1994, and now flies with the American and New York State flags in front of the Student Union building.

RPI Bullet

The RPI Bullet was created in the Fall of 1967. The RPI President wanted something simple that people could instantly recognized in order to promote RPI in the increasingly competitive marketplace. It would also be used to identify RPI on-campus maintenance vehicles, trash containers, signs, and other items not deemed appropriate for the official RPI seal with the coat of arms. The red circle surround the RPI logotype was designed to be used in other logos for campus groups, functions, and organizations to provide a thread of continuity, similar to the concept of European traffic signs. In the spring of 1968, the Board of Trustees approved the use of the logotype (“Bullet”) in all forms of university communication.

Rensselaer Identity Symbol

In October 1987, a pamphlet was published outlining the specifications and uses of the standard Rensselaer logotype used for publications. First impressions of the Institute are often formed through printed materials such as letters, brochures, catalogs, and posters, and Rensselaer wanted something to leave a good impression immediately. Therefore, they wanted Rensselaer’s visual printed materials to project a clean, consistent, and easily remembered image that reflects the character of Rensselaer. The logotype consists of the word Rensselaer underlined by a bar, with the formal seal above the word. It has since evolved to be the word Rensselaer with the formal seal on the left side of the word.

Typefaces

Two typefaces are standard for Rensselaer printed material, Bodoni and Century Oldstyle. Bastardized (stretched; in this case, vertically) Bodoni Book is used for “Rensselaer” in the logotype, while Century Oldstyle was chosen as the text typeface for RPI publications because of its clarity and compatibility with Bodoni. Both typefaces are modern interpretation of timeless and traditional typefaces, reinforcing the history of Rensselaer with a contemporary spin.

School Colors

Cherry and White are the official school colors adopted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1904, although there is some mystery to how they came about. As student activity and a growing sense of school spirit and solidarity came about during the middle of the 19th century, students became more interested in school emblems and colors. By 1887, cherry had somehow become the color of the Institute, comparably to other shades of red at well-known schools such as Harvard University, Rutgers University, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Boston Tech (now known as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Red became more prominent throughout campus, but many students called for more than a single color - wearing a solid red blazer or football uniform was a bit obnoxious. In 1890 when the Student Union was formed and student interest in athletics increased, the editor of The Rensselaer Polytechnic wrote a piece commenting on the cherry color. He said that although cherry had been the customary color for years, most people didn't know exactly what color it was. The Union took it upon themselves to state exactly what color it was and to display it in the '87 gym.

On March 21^st, 1891, the editor wrote to revive the old custom of wearing a school pin instead of class pins and class colors. This was in order to instill in the students a sense of pride in the entire school, not merely their class, and to break down the barriers that existed between the classes. He also proposed that only official members of school teams be allowed to wear an 'R' or 'R.P.I.' on their uniforms. On June 27^th of 1891, a student mass meeting was held and a three man committee was selected to design the school pin. They were given instructions to incorporate the cherry color, but also had permission to combine it with white. Thus, at a mass student meeting, the matching of cherry and white occurred. It was not until 1904, however, when the school colors were incorporated into the seal, that they were officially adopted by the Institute.

Cherry and White also was shouted as a school cheer in the past:

Cherry and White.

Fight! Fight!

Cherry and White.

Fight! Fight!

Cherry and White.

Fight!

(Yelled alternately by different sections of the crowd in the bleachers.)

Seal/Coat of Arms

The first seal of the Institute was by R.G. Sturgis, a Boston architect, in 1904. It was at the special request of President Palmer C. Ricketts, in response to inquiries by students and Institute authorities. They wanted a decoration symbolic of Rensselaer, so as to decorate the rooms of various clubs and organizations.

Acknowledged specialists in the field of heraldry assisted in the creation of the seal. After the design was completed, Charles H. Andres (Class of 1907, and an assistant on the teaching staff) made a hand drawing of it. It included two concentric circles surrounding the shield, encompassing the name of the Institute and the year it was founded, 1824.

Across the top of the shield is the coat of arms of Kiliaen van Rensselaer (in honor of Stephen van Rensselaer, the founder of the Institute), squeezed vertically:

• The upper left quadrant represents the cross moline, the heraldic sign of the van Rensselaers. It is the most important part of the shield because it represents the male part of the family and is carried on from one generation to the next. The cross moline is thought to have originated during the Crusades, but this has not been proven. The van Rensselaers were not of noble origin, and their coat of arms reflects this – they represent the arms of a prosperous family of traders, more likely to select figures and ensigns for their beauty and color instead of their heraldic significance in keeping with the customs of the day.
• The lower left quadrant contains three coronets, the arms of the van Wenckum family, prominent in the Dutch settlement of Amsterdam. This was inserted because of the rules of heraldry – Kiliaen’s paternal grandmother was a van Wenckum.
• The upper right quadrant has the arms of Kiliaen’s mother, Maria Pafraet. The stars were added at a later time, originally six-pointed as depicted in the current seal, but at one point previously they were five-pointed stars.
• The lower right quadrant contains the arms of the patroon’s maternal grandmother, three chevrons.

Below the shield are three vertical strips of the Institute’s colors, cherry and white. At the time it was created, civil engineering was the only engineering program available, and the surveyor’s target was placed on the middle white strip. This was also in honor of the fact that the first Civil Engineering degrees in the English speaking world were awarded by Rensselaer in 1835. A scroll was placed at the bottom of the seal with the words “Knowledge and Thoroughness,” chosen by the director (Dr. Palmer C. Ricketts) because the words seemed to cover two characteristics developed by the Institute course.

In the early 1900s, a graduate of Buffalo, J.J. Albright, requested a crest to decorate a room for a club in Buffalo. To satisfy this desire, two concentric circles were put around the shield, with the words “Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1824” placed between them. In 1905, enameled pins were made of the shield, and were worn by graduates only – undergraduates were not allowed to wear them. The shield has been used with and without rings over the years in various forms. For distribution to clubs, scientific associations, and secondary schools in the early 20th century, it was made in bronze on a wooden background.

The seal represents the Office of the President and the Board of Trustees, along with the tradition and stability of the university. The use of the seal is supposed to be restricted to purposes that reflect the dignity associated with those offices and tradition. In the past it was reserved for those who stood the brunt of four years of training, who worked hard to earn their diploma. Current students were allowed to use the rod and target, but only alumni were permitted to use the full emblem. In modern times, though, the seal is displayed prominently across campus and beyond.

Athletic traditions

Today, RPI has 23 varsity sports, 50 intramural and club sports, and a myriad of organizations that are considered sports-related. There are 12 men's and 11 women's varsity teams. Men's and women's ice hockey are Division 1 sports, and the others participate in Division 3. The hockey teams are members of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC Hockey). The remaining sports play their games in the Liberty League.

Battle for the Dutchman's Shoes

Main article: Dutchman's Shoes

RPI plays in two different annual trophy games. Since 1950, the Engineers have played an annual football game against the Union College Dutchmen. The winner of the game receives the Dutchman's Shoes trophy. With this comes a year of bragging rights. Union won the first game in 1950, and RPI won the most recent one in 2010. Union is ahead in the all-time series 45-16.

Honour Societies

Through the years, RPI has established many long-standing honor societies with the purpose of reward students, faculty, and staff members who provide outstanding service to Rensselaer community. While many of these honor societies have faded with time, some remain persistant at Rensselaer since their induction a century ago.

Bachelors of Rensselaer

Bachelors of Rensselaer was a Rensselaer honor society from 1919 until ____.

Each year, a maximum of ten men from the sophomore class were elected to B.O.R., or Bachelors of Rensselaer, by junior and senior members. Election into B.O.R. was based on Athletic achievement during the freshman year. In addition, one man, designated as the outstanding athlete of the class, receives an engraved cup and becomes the honored Bachelor of Rensselaer. Other members receive smaller engraved cups and white B.O.R. caps.

BOR, along with White Key, acted as host for visiting athletic teams and other school representatives. BOR also assisted Phalanx and White Key in organizing and administering many other school functions, such as the annual Phalanx Dance.

Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering)

Chi Epsilon is a Civil Engineering Honor Society which was established in December 1941 by Prof. Emil Praeger. Rensselaer’s establishment is the seventeenth of its kind.

Phalanx

In 1912, Edward Dion and the Student Council organized a society to recognize those Rensselaer students who have distinguished themselves among their peers in the areas of leadership, service, and devotion to the alma mater. This society, Phalanx, became the fellowship of those most active in student activities. To be "tapped" into Phalanx is the highest honor that an RPI student can attain. Today, the honor of being tapped is given to both juniors and seniors.

Every spring, a colorful ceremony called "Tap Day" is arranged to induct its new members into the organization. During this event, the current members choose their successors from among the junior class. The ceremony was once performed at the end of a sporting event, typically during Soiree Weekend. A hollow square of Phalanx members would march out onto the field and one by one the members would leave the square and proceed into the grandstand to tap the new members into Phalanx.

The purpose of the Phalanx leadership honor society ha s changed over its century of existence. Past responsibilities include the supervision of school elections, acting as the Grand Marshall’s cabinet and advising him and other student groups on current problems, and sponsoring of the annual Phalanx Dance. Currently the society's purpose is to select the following year's membership into Phalanx, the White Key junior leadership honor society, and Who's Who as well as the faculty winner of the Darrin Award.

R-Club (Athletics)

The R club was founded in 1917. Membership is awarded to those who have distinguished themselves in athletics and have won a varsity letter. The club’s main functions are to encourage various athletic activities at Rensselaer and to assist Phalanx and White Key with the operation of Freshman Week.

Tau Beta Pi (Engineering)

Tau Beta Pi is a national organization which recognizes outstanding scholars in the field of engineering. The Rensselaer chapter, New York Gamma, was founded in 1908. Members are chosen from the upper one fifth of the senior class and the upper one eighth of the second semester junior class.

White Key

The crimson “R” crossed diagonally by a white key is well known on campus as the symbol for the sophomore honorary White Key.

Election into White Key is considered the highest honor which a sophomore can attain. A maximum of ten men and women are elected each fall by Phalanx on the basis of leadership, school spirit, scholarship, and extracurricular activities. The only stipulation is that no candidate may have received freshman numerals in more than one sport.

Founded in 1937, the primary function of White Key is to welcome visiting athletic teams and act as their hosts during their stay at Rensselaer. White Key is assisted in this activity by BOR, the campus athletic honorary. In addition to welcoming visiting school representatives, White Key assists Phalanx in the planning and supervision of many school activities, such as elections.

External links

Special thanks to the Rensselaer Archives and Special Collections at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:

• http://www.rpi.edu/dept/library/html/Archives/
• RPI History Revealed

Category:Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Category:Traditions by university or college in the United States