Cornell Traditions

Since 1853, we’ve been building community at Cornell College by handing down a variety of rich traditions from one class to the next. Here are just a few:

Move-in Day.  Each fall, the Cornell football team and student leaders gather to help new students move in to the residence halls—and to welcome them to campus.

The Moose on the Wall.  Okay, it’s actually a moose’s head, and it’s stuffed—but it dates from 1925 and it’s part of the family. The moose, which presides over a student lounge in Law Hall, has been known to receive postcards from admirers.

Pizza with the President.  President Garner invites every Cornell student to his house for pizza. That’s homemade pizza, by the way.

The Rock.  This 5,000-pound granite boulder has been relocated, painted, burned, buried, and a lot more since first coming to campus in 1889. Today, the Rock is fair game for anyone with a can of paint.

Volunteer Service Day.  This important part of New Student Orientation takes student teams to places like Habitat for Humanity, local parks, and Goodwill Industries, where they help make the community a better place—and learn critical lessons along the way.

The Orange Carpet.  Part gathering space, part performance arena, part communications vehicle, this patch of vibrant floor covering has been a campus landmark in The Commons since 1966. 

Toilet Paper Toss.  Cornell’s rivalry with Coe College in Cedar Rapids, the oldest athletic rivalry west of the Mississippi, has led to a few interesting traditions. For instance: each year, Rams fans celebrate the men’s basketball team’s first home basket of the year against Coe by filling the court with toilet paper streamers.