Freshman Hazing

College students of today associate hazing with Greek letter societies, but in years past hazing of freshman by the upper classmen was a common thing in college life. Usually the hazing was a set period, a week or two at the beginning of school, and was intended as a sort of fun welcome and ice breaker for new students. The practice was carried on at Brockport from at least the 1920s up into the mid 1960s. Here are the "Freshman Ten Commandments" from the 1929 Saga Yearbook:

1. Thous shalt only use the basement door.


2. Thous shalt learn all verses of the Alma Mater.


3. Thou shalt greet all upper classmen.


4. Thou shalt use no cosmetics.


5. Thou shalt carry a washcloth - wet.


6. Thou shalt wear a large sheet of white drawing paper with a large green question mark six inches high and thy full name written across the bottom. These shall be worn about thy gawky necks.


7. Thou shalt, oh ye dogs of the male species, adorn thy stretchy necks with winged collars.


8. Thou shalt show thyself in knickers above thy knees to disclose thy ugly calves.


9. Thou shalt adorn thyselves with such decorations as a large green tie beneath thy baby chin.


10. Thou shalt obey all said commandments until 7:30 P.M. October 2.