The class banner is a more recent tradition at Hood, but a beloved one. Each class entering Hood designs and paints a large canvas banner stretching 4ft wide and 7.5 feet long. The background color matches the class color and four symbols depict something that represents the class’s collective experiences for each of their years on campus. Many of the banners incorporate the dink as part of the first year experience. The class patch often represents the second year experience, and the Hood ring is often depicted as part of the third year experience. The graduating year symbol almost always shows a diploma. While these themes are pretty standard through the years, how they are portrayed is unique. A few banners even refer to big external events, such as the “Snowmaggedon” Blizzard of 2010.
Creating the class banner began in 1985 and may have evolved, in part, from the class blazer tradition. Part of the class blazer project was designing a patch for the breast pocket. While the Class of 1989 were the last to order the blazers, the sophomore classes continued to design the patches. The patches were given out sans blazers and the patch designs were also painted on the class banners as one of the four symbols. During the five years these two traditions ran concurrently, the class patch from the blazer was the sophomore year symbol on the class banners.
Interestingly, the College does not have banners for the Class of 2000 and 2001. The Class of 1999 seniors stole the banners for 2001-2002 from the dining hall just before graduation. The class president stashed them in the basement of French House, but unfortunately French House was fumigated right after graduation and the banners disappeared. The 2002 banner was repainted, but the 2000 and 2001 banners are still missing. All of the other banners are safe on campus.
Individuals from each class offer to design and paint the banners. The design is approved by the Dean of Students and they are traditionally hung “in progress” in Coblentz Dining Hall. The banners are colorful and spirited, and they showcase the time and talent of many past Hood artists. Most importantly, they also illustrate other beloved themes and traditions of the College.
