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Like any good tradition, not much has chnaged in the past 35 years of UD students celebrating groundhog day.

Groundhog: the tradition continues

By: John Bloch

Posted: 1/29/08

On Feb. 2, America will celebrate Groundhog Day in hopes of a shorter winter. The University of Dallas, however, will celebrate the day in quite a different way. The celebration in the woods is the University's oldest and most unique annual tradition.

The tradition began in 1963 when a group of students complained to Dr. Donald Cowan, the President at the time, that UD had no traditions. "Think of something to celebrate," Dr. Cowan said. "Celebrate Groundhog Day, for instance. Whatever you do, celebrate it with style."

Originally, the celebration involved both students and faculty. According to Charles Steadman, the Campus Safety Supervisor, the first time he attended Groundhog in 1968, the tradition involved building a large bonfire the day before the celebration. "It had to be at least 15 feet high that year," said Steadman. The Groundhog event itself lasted the whole day and night.

At some point in the mid-70's, due to the fluctuating drinking age, the University decided that it was no longer possible to sponsor such an event. The Groundhog celebration went underground until the University took charge of it again in 2001. "It was a huge problem," said John Grant, Dean of Student Life. "There were so many risks involved; alcohol poisoning, people passing out in the woods, not to mention the drunk driving."

In 2001, the University decided to sponsor the event again. "It was prompted by two things," said Grant. "First, there were too many troubling events with health and safety, and not just potential risks either. Second, it is a school tradition, so the school wanted to have a hand in it."

When the school first took over the celebration in 2001, the majority of the student body opposed the decision. "The first one after the school took over had maybe 400 people attending," said Grant. However, in the years since, attendance has steadily grown. "Last year, over 1,000 people attended," said Grant. "It's a lot nicer because of the school's sponsorship. There's music now, bus-rides, and all sorts of other things that wouldn't be there without the school. Plus, it's connected more to campus because of the other little events."

The Groundhog festivities will begin with the Mimosa Breakfast at 8:00 a.m. on the mall, at which the UD Groundhog may make an appearance. The Groundhog 5K will take place on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. and costs $3 to run ($5 at the race) and $4 to bike. Later, the UD Rugby club will take on University of Houston's team at 2:00 p.m. on the rugby pitch. The Powderpuff Football game (also on the rugby pitch) in which freshmen and sophomores will play against juniors and seniors will follow the Rugby game.

Buses will begin shuttling students to the park at 8:30 p.m. from the tower and the party itself will begin at 8:45 p.m. The first band will be Savage Cabbages, a student/alumni band that won Battle of the Bands in the fall. Green River Ordinance, a band that played at TGIT in the fall, will follow and the night will end with Ceann, a New-England-based Irish folk band. Information about admission (prices, policies, etc.) is available in the SALC or from the ticket-sales table in Haggar Foyer through Feb. 1.