Campus Day was an old Hood tradition that began in the fall of 1920. Campus Day celebration was held during the month of October and consistent of competition in sports, singing, skits, class costumes, as well as other festivities. Students spent weeks preparing for the competition. Each class would pick a theme related to “the life of the college and the class which represents it”[1] and dress in costume that exemplify the theme. Themes were typically kept a secret until the day of the event. According to a Blue & Grey report, “the spirit and talent of all the classes is being collected and all plans lead towards this one objective”.
A typical Campus Day celebration begins at 10 a.m. at the steps of Coblentz Hall. Prior to the construction of the Hodson Outdoor Theater in 1937, the group paraded in their class costumes to the front steps of the Administration Office, now called Alumnae Hall. The singing of class songs would then be held, with seniors presenting their original songs followed by the juniors, sophomores and freshmen. Singing of the College song, Alma Mater, preceded the competition. Following the competition is the tree planting ceremony, where the classes again competed for the best entertainment. References to the tree planting ceremony during Campus Day was not consistently covered throughout the years. The annual hockey game between alumnae and various student groups are then held. The event concludes with the stunts by each class at Brodbeck Hall/Hodson Outdoor Theater. Class prizes were given for best costumes, best singing, best original song and music, best tree planting stunt and best stunt. The class who receives the most points wins a trophy cup presented by the president of the Alumnae Association
Over time, the Campus Day celebration evolved and its scope diminished. In 1938 “the formal presentation of Hodson Memorial theater to Hood replaced the former morning activities”6. Campus Day activities was shifted to the afternoon and a new tradition, the Campus Day all-college dance, started[2]. In 1952, only a few members of each class presented the skits6. During the 1960 Campus Day celebration, the traditional skits were replaced by the performance of the Hood Tour Choir, however, individual class singing an all-college and a Big or Little Sister song was still held. Activities for the Campus Day festivities included a showing of a film, a gymkhana, a foreign student bazzar, Campus Day dance, and the freshman-sophomore hockey game[3]. The 1980’s celebration of Campus Day included a choir pancake breakfast, volleyball game between freshmen and sophomores, the Hood vs. Alumnae field hockey game, and Campus Day song competition[4]. In 1992, Campus Day was renamed as “first annual” Campus Day/Homecoming Weekend and the activities focused on entertainment for students such as carriage rides and networking brunch. By 1995, Campus Day was officially replaced by Family Weekend.
Fun Fact: The class of 1947 wore Hood’s first varsity football team as their theme for the day. “Decades later, one of Hood’s most popular T-shirts read, “Hood Football – Undefeated Since 1893”[5].
[1] Blue & Grey, October 8, 1948
[2] Blue & Grey, October 7, 1960
[3] Blue & Grey, 1960
[4] Blue & Grey, October 7, 1982; Blue & Grey,
[5] The Campus History Series: Hood College, pg. 68
