OurDICKINSON

Our Dickinson

Our Dickinson is a program coordinated by the Office

of Alumni & Parent Engagement and the Office of

Campus Life. The program’s mission is to help develop

a sense of Dickinson spirit and pride by promoting the

history and traditions of the college. Each year Our

Dickinson hosts four all-campus events—Charter Day,

Red Out, Rush to Thank and the Celebration Dinner.

Celebrate. Volunteer. Connect. Give back. Together, it’s

our Dickinson.

Convocation/Signing In

Convocation/Signing In

Each year, new Dickinsonians gather in front of Old

West’s venerable stone steps. Etched with history and

scuffed by centuries of students, those steps are part of

Dickinson’s most important traditions. During

Convocation, new students walk up the steps and

through the doors into Memorial Hall to sign into the

college. The doors of Old West symbolize Dickinson’s

connection to its past and a gateway to the future.

Commencement Weekend

Commencement Weekend

Commencement Weekend opens with The Toast to the

Graduating Class on Friday night. Students welcome

their families and friends to campus at this annual

champagne toast, which includes remarks from the

president, the provost and members of the class. The

Baccalaureate ceremony follows on Saturday afternoon

and is a time for students to reflect on their four years

at Dickinson through speeches, music, prayers and

other outlets. The weekend concludes with a Sunday

graduation ceremony known as Commencement. At

Commencement, the graduating class walks out the

doors and down the steps of Old West, symbolically

exiting the college and entering the world of alumni.

Orientation Traditions

Orientation Traditions

New Student Orientation is an annual event that

welcomes new students into the Dickinson

community. Several events within Orientation are

celebrated as Dickinson traditions, including the Red

and White Dinner and the Quiz Bowl Neighborhood

Challenge.

Senior Experience

Senior Experience

Members of the class and groups across campus

come together to plan a comprehensive senior

program to help Dickinsonians make the transition

from students to active alumni. The senior-class

experience, culminating with a week’s worth of social

programming leading to Commencement, is preceded

by the annual Pints with Profs event and the Senior

Class Gift Campaign.

Charter Day

Charter Day

Each year the campus community gathers on the

Academic Quad to commemorate the enactment

of Dickinson’s charter on September 9, 1783. This

document established Dickinson as a college. It was

approved by the Pennsylvania state legislature and

enacted just one week after the Treaty of Paris had

officially ended the American Revolution—a fact that

distinguishes Dickinson as the first college chartered

in the newly established United States.

Dinks

Dinks

A small hat known as the Dickinson dink was

presented to every first-year student until the late

1960s, marking them as new members of the

Dickinson community. Students were subject to a

number of rules and regulations associated with the

dink. The class of 1971 was the last group to officially

receive the cap.

Red Devil

Red Devil

Dickinson’s Red Devil mascot was born in 1930 when

the college football team played a tough game against

George Washington University. The Dickinson Red

and White were heavily outmatched in the end, but

they held off George Washington throughout the first

half, trailing 7 to 6 at halftime. Because of this show of

grit and spirit against a superior team, a Washington

writer from the Public Ledger dubbed the Dickinson

team the “Red Devils.”

Dick the Dog

Dick the Dog

Dick was Dickinson’s proud mascot from 1896 to

1903. He spent time in the college’s residence halls,

posed with athletics teams in official photographs and

even attended chapel. He was found dead in Dean of

the College James Henry Morgan’s front garden on

Monday, January 19, 1903, and the students sent him

to a taxidermist so he could remain a presence on

campus. Dick eventually made his way back to

campus, where he was displayed in the trophy case for

several years. Today, his whereabouts are unknown.

Mermaid

Mermaid

When Benjamin Latrobe designed Old West on

Dickinson’s campus, he asked a local coppersmith to

craft a cupola weathervane in the likeness of Triton,

a fish-tailed mythological sea god. Unfamiliar with

Triton, the coppersmith crafted instead the only

fish-tailed human with which he was familiar—a

mermaid. The mermaid quickly captured the hearts of

Dickinson students and inspired a series of legendary

pranks. The original mermaid is now on display in

Dickinson’s Waidner-Spahr Library, while a replica has

taken its place on Old West.

Academic Awards

Academic Awards

Dickinson students do remarkable work—

independent research, internships, rigorous studies—

and each year a select group of students are recognized

for their outstanding efforts. The college gives out

several academic awards ranging from department-

specific awards to recognition for the highest GPA in

a class year.

Adirondack Chairs

Adirondack Chairs

The red Adirondack chairs, a highly visible part of the

campus landscape, are never in the same place from

one day to the next. Students move them to a quiet

place to study alone, classes arrange them in large

circles for active discussions and friends put them side

by side to sit and watch life on campus.

Benjamin Rush Statue

Benjamin Rush Statue

Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of

Independence and the foremost American physician

of the 18th century, is the founder of Dickinson

College. A statue of Benjamin Rush is among the

landmarks featured in Dickinson’s historic triangle—

the cross-section space created by Old West, the Stern

Center for Global Education and East College. A

reminder of the past, the statue also plays a part in

current campus traditions, and students frequently

garnish the statue with colorful streamers or apparel

to celebrate important events, such as Spirit Week

or Commencement.

The Denny Bell

The Denny Bell

Dickinson purchased the building that would become

Denny Hall from the Denny family for $1 with a

promise to keep the building under their name as a

memorial. The building opened June 8, 1896. Denny

Memorial Hall was destroyed by fire on March 3, 1904,

rebuilt and opened again under the same name on

June 6, 1905. The only addition to the building was the

Lenore Allison Tower, which houses the Denny Bell.

The bell is rung each year, by the members of Wheel &

Chain, as part of the Commencement ceremony.

John Dickinson’s Lion

John Dickinson’s Lion

John Dickinson, the college’s namesake, shed his

family’s aristocratic past by refusing to have a coat of

arms in America. He extracted only one of its icons as

a symbol—a lion. A priceless piece of the college’s

history, the lion, in the form of a marble sculpture,

traveled everywhere with John Dickinson and was

likely with him when he drafted the Articles of

Confederation. Today, the lion watches over

graduating Dickinsonians at Commencement and

appears at the college’s signing-in ceremony.

College Seal

College Seal

In the summer of 1784, as Dickinson’s founders

discussed the formation of the college, Benjamin Rush

and John Dickinson were asked to create a suitable seal

for the institution. The resulting seal consists of an

open Bible, a telescope and a cap surrounded by the

inscription “Pietate et Doctrina Tuta Libertas,” a Latin

phrase meaning “Freedom is made safe through

character and learning.”

Watch your step! Legend has it that if a student treads

on the college seal embedded in the middle of Britton

Plaza, he or she won’t graduate.

Welcome Back BBQ

Welcome Back BBQ

Hosted on the Sunday evening before the first day of

class, the Welcome Back BBQ, sponsored by MOB (the

Multi-Organization Board), is the first social event of

the academic year.

Special Dinners

Special Dinners Thanksgiving, Holiday, Celebration

Did you ever wonder what it would look like to have a

room full of desserts? Well, you’re in luck—three times

a year the Dining Hall is transformed for a special

dinner celebration. Tables are covered in linens, a

special menu is planned and the desserts are so grand

they need a room of their own. You won’t want to miss

the Thanksgiving Dinner and Holiday Dinner in the

fall and the Celebration Dinner in the spring.

Class Icons

Class Icons

In 2010 a new tradition emerged—the creation of class

icons. All Dickinson students share the Dickinson

wordmark and college seal, which unify them as

members of the Dickinson community. The class icons

promote a more specific affinity among classmates—

an affinity that remains strong throughout the four

years at Dickinson and beyond. The icons visually

represent some of the college’s most significant

landmarks: the mermaid, the statue of Benjamin Rush,

the doors of Old West and the campus archways.

Alumni Weekend and Homecoming & Family Weekend

Alumni Weekend and Homecoming & Family Weekend

Alumni Weekend is held each June and is an opportunity for alumni to come back to Carlisle, visit old friends and celebrate reunions—many even stay on campus to relive the college experience. The weekend is full of celebrations, including an all-alumni dinner, class photos and a barbeque.

Homecoming & Family Weekend is an annual event that brings together the Dickinson community for a few days of fall fun. Homecoming also is a time for the current students to boast their latest advancements in academia and athletics. Festivities include the Red Devil football game, lectures and presentations, tours and receptions and family-friendly entertainment.

All-College Formal

All-College Formal

Every year the college comes together for this formal

dance hosted by MOB (the Multi-Organization

Board). The transformation of the HUB Social Hall,

inspired by each year’s theme, sets the perfect tone for

students to dance the night away.

Springfest

Springfest

The name says it all for this annual event sponsored

by MOB (the Multi-Organization Board). Held on

Morgan Field in the spring, the festival includes a

cookout, games, music, giveaways and booths hosted

by student groups.

The Dickinsonian

The Dickinsonian

The Dickinsonian has been the college’s student

newspaper since 1872. The paper was first issued by

two literary societies and written in the style of a

literary journal. Eventually the paper transitioned to its

current form, reporting on campus life and events and

engaging the campus as a print forum for open

discussion. New issues are available across campus

every Thursday.

Red Out

Red Out

Red Out is one of the four events sponsored by

Our Dickinson and is cosponsored by MOB (the

Multi-Organization Board). Held during a Friday-

night football game, the event gathers the campus

community at Biddle Field to cheer on the Red Devils.

Festivities include a funnel-cake truck, wings, fun

giveaways and a special halftime show. Stop by to show

your spirit, and don’t forget to wear the red!

Rush to Thank

Rush to Thank

Each year more than 9,500 alumni, parents, students

and friends make a gift to the college, and each spring

we take a day to celebrate their generosity. Students,

faculty and staff are encouraged to rush to the lobby of

the HUB to sign a thank-you card. Cookies, coffee and

tea are available for anyone who participates in Rush

to Thank!

Networking Day

Networking Day

Networking Day is an annual event co-sponsored by

the Career Center and the Office of Alumni & Parent

Engagement. It provides an opportunity for alumni to

return to campus and offer students advice on landing

a job and choosing a career path. Alumni and students

attend breakout sessions focused on career-specific

topics and participate in mock interviews.

PAS

PAS

The Public Affairs Symposium started in the mid-20th

century as a religious symposium, but since 1964 it has

been a secular symposium promoting dialogue on

contemporary ethical and social issues. Speakers at the

student-run symposiums have included Ralph Nader,

Peter Jennings, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and numerous

politicians.

D-Book

D-Book

The D-Book is a pocket-sized compendium of

Dickinson’s history and traditions. Printed regularly

in the early ’60s, the D-Book was revived by students

in 2006. It is now given to all first-year students as an

introduction to the college.