UO History 101: Winter on Campus

Though the Oregon winters can be cold and dark, there have been plenty of activities for students to stay busy and involved on campus. Here are just a few of the highlights from over the years:

 

1932
Social dances were one of the most popular activities during the winter season. Each class had their own dance planned for some point during the school year, but there were additional dances associated with holidays that were produced by various organizations. These included the Christmas Revels, held right before fall term finals, and the Colonial Rout, a costume dance held in honor of George Washington’s bicentennial anniversary.

1932 was also the year that intramural sports began to skyrocket in popularity among students, after the concept was introduced to the student body the year prior. Sports on the winter schedule included volleyball, handball, fencing, and wrestling.


 

1945
Despite the war, dances continued to be a winter term highlight for students. There was a lack of male dance partners and decorations at the dances, but the students came up with many creative solutions. The Oregon Coeds dance, for example, invited men from the Navy, while the Independent Students’ Association invited Oregon State students to join them at their winter dance.

 

1950
1950 was a major year for the University of Oregon: most of the veterans from World War II had graduated, Carson Hall was built to relieve the housing shortage, and the EMU was completed by the end of the school year.

The winter at Oregon that year was one of the coldest on record, at the time. There were numerous days where the high was in the low-20s, and the coldest recorded temperature that year was -3 degrees. 

 

1966
The major news of the winter this year was the University Theatre’s ten-week tour of Europe with Guys and Dolls. They were chosen by the American Educational Theatre Association, USO (United Service Organization), and the Department of Defense as the first school to tour Europe.

Dorms and sororities hosted formal dances during winter term to cheer up the students during the dreary months.

 

1980
The popularity of winter dance seasons faded, and highlights of the winter term were heavily focused on music. These included B.B. King’s concert at the EMU Ballroom, University of Oregon’s Dance ’80 Concert, and Willie Nelson’s concert.

 

2022
Today, winter traditions on campus at the UO look a bit different. The ninth annual Hip-Hop Jam is one of the more notable on-campus events produced by first-year students. The School of Music and Dance hosts numerous concerts and showcases, and for sports fans, women’s and men’s basketball is a highlight of winter term.

-By Peyton Hall, UO Alumni Association Student Associate