Four UF freshmen smiled as they Gator chomped in front of Bull Gator — their first UF tradition.
Josh Rutledge, 18, a UF aerospace engineering freshman, went with his three friends to Rally in the Swamp Sunday in part to cheer on the Gators and to fulfill a tradition.
The chomp is one of 40 traditions that UF students need to complete in order to earn a medal to wear at graduation. The list of traditions, found in the F Books handed out at Preview, include savoring Krishna spaghetti, napping on the Plaza of the Americas and visiting the UF bat houses, said Avery Smith, UF Cicerone Tradition Keeper Co-Chair.
"If you start working on UF traditions now, you’re going to feel more connected," the 20-year-old said. "The idea is to connect past, present and future Gators all together."
When freshmen complete their traditions early, they get to know campus and create shared experiences, Smith said. These common experiences, like eating in the dining hall or going to football games, make it easier to connect with other Gators.
Freshmen should get started on traditions now, Smith said.
While Rutledge wanted to complete the required 40 traditions, he said it was about more than a graduation medal.
"I’d really rather do it for the experience of being with people rather than the medal," he said.
Completing traditions with friends allowed Carlee Wisniewski, an engineering freshman, know where things were on campus, she said.
"We had a lot of free time the last couple of days," the 18-year-old said. "We just decided to get started."
Some students think they can only log their traditions when they are seniors, Smith said. But students can start logging their traditions as freshmen.
The tradition keepers log traditions at the end of the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters, the philosophy major said. To prove they participated, students need to bring in a picture or memento of the tradition, like a football ticket.
Students will get their keepsakes back, though, Smith said.
"They get this nice memento book that will serve as a scrapbook for their time at UF," he said.
In addition to the traditions in the "Class of 2019 F Book," students also have the opportunity to document a few that are unique to them, Smith said.
He goes to Turlington after every home game to watch the marching band and drumline play. They play after every game, win or lose, Smith said.
Rutledge is also discovering his own tradition in the Swamp, even though he’s only been here for a few days.
He said he rushes up and down the stairs of his dorm every day.
"That should be a tradition, running up and down the stairs," he said.
