Initiation: 1909-1932

Dunking Shute. Initiation chute - soak with soft soap and shot them down from Room 121, back of Athabasca Hall. October 1, 1913.

Initiation chute, shot down from Room 121, back of Athabasca Hall, 1913

From 1909 through 1932, second year “sophs” organized an initiation for first year “freshies.” The goal of the events was to rid the new students of their “freshness.” The Sophomore Court found freshies guilty of “Freshness.” One of the long standing punishments for being found guilty at the Sophomore Court was “the chute” where freshies were forced down a wooden slide into a tank of water from a second story window. “The poor ‘freshie’ plunged down the chute and disappeared, to emerge a moment later a choking, dripping bundle of flesh.” [1]

The Freshie Parade route went down Jasper Avenue, interrupting traffic and attracting onlookers from downtown businesses. At the head of the parade was an ass, followed by freshies in special outfits and sometimes in cages. In addition to hats and other costumes, freshies often had their faces painted.

[1] The Gateway, vol. 4, no. 1, October 1913, p. 28.

[2] "Rice Balks at Initiation; then Defies Authority." The Gateway, vol. 15, no. 23, March 12, 1925, p. 1.

[3] Van & Schenck. "Ain't we got fun?" 1921. 

[4] "Letters to the Editor by Parry Green." The Gateway, vol. 12, no. 1, October 13, 1921, p. 7.

[5] "What we have to stand for." The Gateway, vol. 12, no. 2, October 20, 1921, p. 4 & 8.