| Alma
Mater |
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| Charles M. Curry, Professor of English
and Literature authored The Alma Mater.
It was originally entitled, "Indiana's Normal"
and first printed in a June 1912 issue of
the Normal Advance.
Listen
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| Blue
and White |
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| In 1899, it was announced that Yale
Blue and White would replace the colors
of Salmon Pink and White. The colors are
also applied to the Blue and White Parade
and the Blue and White Dance held during
Homecoming each fall. |
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| Book
and Torch |
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| The book and torch are official symbols
of the University and are featured in its
seal. The book symbolizes knowledge and
truth gained here and the torch symbolizes
the light of inspiration that comes to students
in these halls . |
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| Book
and Torch Ceremony |
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This traditional ceremony marks the commitment
of the senior class to become active alumni
of Indiana State. Historically, each senior
class was charged with adding to the Parsons-Sandison
Living Memorial Fund, a scholarship fund
for Indiana State students. This tradition
encompasses two ceremonies, the first of
which is on Founder's Day (generally in
January), at which time the president of
the Alumni Board charges the senior class
to make a commitment to the University.
At commencement, another ceremony is conducted.
As part of this ceremony, the senior class
answers the challenge of commitment, as
they become alumni of the University.
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| Campuses |
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| Indiana State University-Evansville
(now University of Southern Indiana) --
Indiana State University-Evansville was
created as a branch campus in 1965. Like
Ball State University, it became an independent
institution of higher education when it
was granted independent standing as the
University of Southern Indiana in 1985.
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| Donaghy
Day |
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Named after Fred Donaghy, graduate of the
Normal School (1912) and a professor of
life sciences, this campus tradition was
initiated in 1976 as a day set aside for
the community to celebrate the season and
to work to help beautify the campus and
surrounding community.
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| Eastern
Division |
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| The Eastern Division was created in
1918 in the building of the old Muncie Institute
in Muncie, Indiana. The Eastern division
became Ball State Teachers College in 1929
when Indiana State Normal became Indiana
State Teachers College. The Indiana State
Teachers College Board of Trustees governed
both colleges until 1961. |
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| Fight
Song |
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| "March On (You Fighting Sycamores),"
the universityıs fight song, was authored
and arranged by Joseph A. Gremelspacher,
an ISU professor of music, as a pep song.
It was first performed at a homecoming-eve
pep rally on Oct. 20, 1939.
Listen
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| Founders
Day |
|
January 6 (although it is not always observed
on this date) commemorates the opening of
the institution in 1870 when 23 students
presented themselves to a faculty of three
on the first day of classes at the Indiana
State Normal School.
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| Homecoming |
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The term Homecoming was first used in print
announcements for the Alumni-Varsity Basketball
Game on Dec. 9, 1916. By the year 1919,
this event became known as Blue and White
Day and featured dances and entertainment
for alumni of the Normal School. In 1921
the events were organized around a football
game scheduled earlier in the autumn. A
bonfire and pep rally were added to the
festivities in 1922; the Blue-and-White
Parade in 1923; and in 1937, Bette Whitmore
(Kappa Kappa) was elected ISUıs first Homecoming
Queen.
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| Mascots |
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In 1969, a committee created the Chief Quabachi
concept as a mascot for the school. This
Indian Chief (and accompanying legend) was
used as a mascot until 1989. In 1995, the
university welcomed Sycamore Sam to the
ISU family. The blue-and-white creature
is a favorite among young and old alike.
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| Names |
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| Indiana State Normal School (1865-1929)
Indiana State Teachers College
(1929-1961)
Indiana State College (1961-1965)
Indiana State University (1965
to the present)
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| Presidents
of the University |
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William Albert Jones
1869-1879 |
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George Pliny Brown
1879-1885 |
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William Wood Parsons
1885-1921 |
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Linnaeus Neal Hines
1921-1933 |
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Ralph Noble Tirey
1934-1953 |
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Raleigh Warren Holmstedt
1953-1965 |
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Alan Carson Rankin
1965-1975 |
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Richard George Landini
1975-1992 |
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John William Moore
1992-2000 |
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Lloyd W. Benjamin III
2000- |
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| Spring
Week |
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This week consists of a variety of exciting
student activities in celebration of spring,
including the Tandem race (see below), bed
races, air band competitions and more.
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| Student
Publications |
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| The student publication, the Normal
School Advance (a monthly) first appeared
in November 1895. In 1915, the monthly format
was dropped in favor of a weekly newspaper
and an annual published in June of each
year. Both publications continued to carry
the name Normal Advance until 1924. During
that year, the yearbook was renamed the
Sycamore. Five years later, the newspaper
was renamed the
Indiana Statesman. The yearbook was
discontinued in the spring of 1993. Two
years later,
IQ
Magazine was established (quarterly)
as a means of continuing a written and photographic
history of the institution and its events.
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| Sycamores |
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| In 1921 a contest was held to pick a
name for the athletic teams at what was
then called the Indiana State Normal School.
Until this time, the term "Fighting Teachers"
was frequently used in press accounts of
athletic contests. In January 1922, it was
announced that the name Sycamores had won
a popular vote of the student body. Indiana
State University has used this team name
ever since. |
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| Tandem |
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This student-organized race was first run
as part of Spring Week activities in 1970.
Teams are comprised of coed mixed pairs,
which compete on tandem bicycles.
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| Trike |
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The Indiana State Tricycle Derby was first
run in 1963 as a 10-lap race around the
sidewalks of the Quadrangle on childrenıs
tricycles. The races featured a menıs and
womenıs division (the Powder Puff Derby).
The races now feature menıs and womenıs
teams racing on specially built tricycles
at the new Recreation East complex at Ninth
and Sycamore streets.
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| University
Seal |
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The current seal includes the symbols of
the book and torch and the founding date
of 1865. It was approved for use by the
board of Trustees in 1929, the year that
the Normal School became Indiana State Teachers
College.
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