Traditions
EIN ZWEI DREI
(for non-German speakers it means –
“One, Two,Three”)
Allah Rah! Allah Rah!
Allah Rah! Rah! Rah!
Yol Yah! Yol Yah!
C of E.! C of E!
Rah! Rah! Rah!
With a Ve Vi! and a Vo Vi!
And a Ve Vi Vo Vi Vum! Vum! Vum!
Go get a cat trap bigger than a rat trap Vum!
Go get a rat trap bigger than a cat trap,
Vum! Vum! Vum!
Cannibals! Cannibals!!
Boom a-lak-a-bah!!
C of E! C of E! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rot! Dot! Slob-it-a-got!
Rip Rah! Rah Re!
Bora Bella! Bella Bora!
Con Slob it a hot dot! Rah!
EMPORIA!!!
Lake Mergendahl and the Tug of War
Each year the upperclassmen and freshmen had a tug-of-war across the lake. It was often part of the freshmen initiation rights as they became part of the C of E family.
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The lake was formed when Professor Schaffner wanted a source of fish and botanical specimens for his classes. The pond was dug in the spring of 1912. It was nothing but a dry, ugly hole as the fall semester started. A student, looking at it, said that it was as dry and forbidding as the classes and tests of math in Professor Mergendahl class. The name stuck and Lake Mergendahl was born.
Long Live Stuart Hall
Words by Chester H.C. Dudley
(sometime before 1902)
To the Tune of “Viva la Compagnie”
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1. Come here, youth and maidens, and join in our song, Long live Stu-art Hall,
The wel-kin will ring with our mirth loud and long, Long live Stu-art Hall.
(Chorus) A-la-ra, A-la-ra, A-la-ra-ra, A-la-ra, A-la-ra, A-la-ra-ra,
Yol ya, Yol ya, Yol ya, Yol ya, C. of E. Rah, Rah, Rah!
2
We’ll sing of her glo-ries which will nev-er fade, Long live Stu-art Hall,
We’ll sing of her fa-cul-ty hand-some-ly paid, Long live Stu-art Hall.
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(Chorus)
3
Then wave white and crim-son, and loy-al-ty show, Long live Stu-art Hall,
We’ll love and re-vere her wher-ev-er we go, Long live Stu-art Hall.
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(Chorus)
Pie Points
For most of the College''s existence the students ate together in the basement of Dunlap Hall. On game days it became a tradition for the students to cut the point from their piece of pie and together, at the end of the meal, eat the points together thus ensuring extra C of E points in the upcoming athletic contest.
Puritan Restrictions
The College of Emporia was known as a religious school from its inception until it gradually became more secular in the 1950s and 60s. In Conrad Vandervelde''s history of the school he tells of some of the restrictions.
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Smoking, card-playing and dancing were prohibited. Bible courses were required each year and chapel was held daily. Ball games were arranged so that Sunday travel would not be necessary. Monday was the weekly holiday to discourage travel on Sunday. The college laboratories and library were closed and athletic facilities were not used on Sunday.
Alma Mater written by John R. Wilkie - 1911
(sung to the tune of Maryland, my Maryland) or Oh Christmas Tree
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Upon her sunny height she stands,
C of E, our C of E
Her name revered in many lands,
C of E, our C of E
Her praise we sing, both far and wide
Her deeds we'll tell with love and pride
For her we'll work what er betide
C of E our C of E
Thy noble sons in many lands
Honor thee, our C of E
Thy daughters true with loving hands
Toll for thee, our C of E
Where er they go they think of thee
With heart and hand they work for thee,
And aye for thee their prayers shall be,
C of E, our C of E
Thy name we praise, thy name we love,
C of E, our C of E
Thy fame we'll raise all else above
C of E our C of E
While life shall last we'll sing for thee
Till life shall end we'll work for thee
And evermore our song shall be,
C of E, our C of E
"Burying the Foe"
Gwinn Henry Cemetery
Football coach Gwinn Henry was hired in 1918 and coached the college to many victories until leaving in 1923 to go to the University of Missouri. The cemetery that bore his name was begun in 1918. After each victorious football game a funeral service was held and the foe buried with an appropriate headstone placed on the grounds. The stone was painted with the year, the defeated school name and the score. During Henry''s coaching years he coached two undefeated teams and had a combined record of 34 wins, 4 losses and 4 ties. The cemetery was kept up traditionally by the freshman class, for the enjoyment of the upperclassmen.
Schaffner Field football
William Allen White, Loyal Friend
Daniel.C. Schaffner, class of 1898, was the star end on the first C of E football team. He was a member of the C of E faculty beginning in 1902 and taught geology, chemistry, biology, physics, and was Director of Athletics and Acting President. The football field was named for this important athlete, alumni and staff member. (see also Lake Mergendahl)
For more than 50 years William Allen White maintained a personal interest and close association with the College of Emporia. He was an early student of the college, 1884-1885, before entering the University of Kansas. He was a member of the Board of Trustees for 30 years. He was chairman of the Building Committee during the first phase of construction on Kenyon Hall. He taught a course in journalism at the college for twelve years. Many C of E graduates started their journalistic careers as reporters for the Emporia Gazette. He also wrote countless editorials in support of the college during his famous career. In 1939, in recognition of his long service to the college, the Alla Rah annual was dedicated to him. His funeral, in 1944, was held in the chapel in Kenyon Hall and Dean Hirschler played the amazing chapel organ for his long-time friend.
Thanksgiving Day Football Game Between C of E and the Normal (Emporia State)
For several decades the Thanksgiving Day football game between cross-town rival colleges was the most important game of the year for both schools. Perhaps the most anticipated game was in 1926 when both teams were undefeated and had 6-0 records. The legendary Harold Grant was the coach of the Fighting Presbyterians. C of E and the Teachers College had played 33 games with C of E winning 18 and the Teachers 15, with no ties. C of E had won a record 19 straight games leading up to the dramatic day. The game ended in a scoreless tie.
