Pride and Traditions

How We Stengthen and Preserve

Traditions

• Traditions play an important role in building community.

• At their core, building community is what traditions do.

• Three conclusions

• When students see that the University cares, they

believe that they belong.

• Loneliness gives them a negative sense of

community

• Access to university-sponsored programming &

social life access lead to enhanced feeling of

community.

Van Jura (2010)

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Journey through the eyes of a river

/water rising/

The Headwaters of the San Marcos

River: Spring Lake

Fed by springs that bubble up from the Edwards Aquifer below-

pumping at a rate of 130 million gallons per day.

Purchased by the University in 1994, is now The Meadows Center for

Water and the Environment.

San Marcos River is home to 8 endangered and threatened species.

Spring Lake is thought to be one of the longest continually inhabited

sites in North America with artifacts dating back 12,000 years.

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Texas Blind Salamander Paddle tour on Spring Lake Texas Wild Rice at Sewell

Park

Life “On the Hill”

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An 1887

Chautauqua

Chautauqua Hill, named

for the Chautauqua

movement

It’s a Great Day to be a Bobcat!

Texas State University was authorized in 1899 and opened in 1903 (then

called Southwest Texas State Normal School)

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An early picture of

Old Main

4th largest university in Texas

31st largest in the United States

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We’ve grown since 1903…

Sewell Park

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Dr. S.M. “Froggy”

Sewell (math

professor)

Our Most Famous Alumnus

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Lyndon B. Johnson, class

of 1930, was the 36th U.S.

President.

Hand Signs

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The Heart of Texas State Hand Sign

-Left hand

-2 outside fingers pointing down, indicating our

location within the state

The Eat ‘Em Up Cats Hand Sign

-Right hand

-make a paw

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Texas State

Alumna and

Head Volleyball

Coach Karen

Chisum has

been here 37

years and has

an impressive

803-509-3

record.

The Bobcats

Texas State adopted the

Bobcat as mascot in 1920.

Infamous for their stubborn fierceness and great courage-- yet shy and mostly nocturnal.

1960’s- live mascot in the quad

1964- “Boko”

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Academics

97 bachelor’s degrees

88 master’s degrees

12 doctoral degrees

Time for Class

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A beloved symbol of life on the hill, the

College Bell once sat near Old Main

and signaled class changes from the

early 1940’s to the mid 1960’s. (Now

on display in the Veteran’s memorial

garden.)

The Bell Tower was built in the

1970s. It chimes daily at noon,

and it plays “Alma Mater” and

“Go Bobcats” on

commencement days.

The Pride of the Hill Country

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The Bobcat Marching Band first performed at a football game on Thanksgiving day in 1919.

The Texas State Strutters

are the first and largest

collegiate dance team in

the country and they have

performed all over the

world.

For Luck…

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Rub the Bobcat

Victory Ball for luck

and personal success.

It’s located near the

end-zone complex at

Bobcat Stadium.

Rub the Fighting Stallions

for luck before exams.

Located on the Quad near

Derrick Hall. This is also

the university’s designated

free speech area.

Flowers and Favorites

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Inspired by our school flower, gaillardia

pulchella, school colors are maroon

and gold..

A tradition since 1925, 12 class

favorites are elected every year as

Gaillardians.

(1957

Soap Box Derby

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An annual event since 1967, the derby is held during homecoming.

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Victory Star

Christmas star on

old water tower Victory Star atop

Jackson hall.

Ring Ceremony

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LBJ’s Boarding House

Built in 1896, this

Victorian-style once

served as a boarding

house.

Re-located to present

location in the 1950s.

Now home to the

Center for Student

Retention.

We Will Never Forget

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A tradition since 1987, the Bobcat Pause ceremony is held

every spring.

Located on the east side of

Flowers hall, the Texas State

memorial garden provides space

for those who want to remember

their loved ones.Located on the west side of Flowers hall,

the Texas State veterans memorial garden

features plaques honoring Bobcats who

have served.

Be Proud…that you are going to school near one of the longest continually

inhabited sites in North America. That many people can’t be wrong!

of our state-of-the-art cleanroom in the Mitte complex

of our outrageously talented students in the musical theater program

of our teacher education program, one of the best in the country

of our status as a Hispanic-serving institution

of our Department of Geography, one of the best in the country

of our recognition for being a veteran-friendly campus

of Mathworks, one of the top math programs in the nation

of our status as an Emerging-Research University

of our highly selective and successful Sound Recording Technology

program, the first in the southwest

that this is one of the best places in the world to study aquatic

ecosystems and species

of our outdoor forensic anthropology lab, one of six in the nation

of our 21 faculty members honored as Piper Professors. Only one

other Texas university has more

of our Wittliff Collections in the Alkek library

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Be Proud…

because our alumni win gold medals, run nationally-recognized

companies, sing in metropolitan operas, compose award-winning

literature, compete as professional athletes, and are Emmy-award

winning actors. They are at the top of their field, the best in the world,

and they all started out as Bobcats, just like you and I

because Old Main has stood watch over our campus for more than

115 years and has seen us grow from 300 students to an enrollment of

37,900

that you are continuing our legacy and the legacy of the thousands of

bobcats who have come before you

be proud to be a Bobcat because Texas State will always be a home

to you, should you want it, no matter how large it grows or how high

the star rises

be proud to be a Bobcat because we are proud of you, and each one

of you will shine.

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Special thanks to Sarah Wood for her research, powerful words, and

Bobcat love.

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Go Bobcats

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Check Out Our Website

http://pride-traditions.ua.txstate.edu/

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