"Folklore of Student Life" holds the accumulated wisdom and wit of several IU undergraduate classes and of a good many IU undergraduates, all focused upon the folklore -- those shared avenues of creativity and expression -- that is part of the college experience at Indiana University. This website is a joint production of Prof John McDowell and his students in a number of undergraduate classes
Shannon’s archive rite: Original Contributor: Faulkner, John Title: Tailgating An American Tradition Class: F101 Semester/year: Fall/ 1981 “One particularly creative group, not having a real tailgate on their car, went to the junk yard and bought a tailgate from an Continue Reading …
Reggie’s current practical jokes: Text 1 Contributor: Reggie Watson Informant: Tony Tevis Title: Sleep Tight Semester/year: Fall, 2005 Instructor: John McDowell Me: Ok so what is your practical joke that you pulled off? Tony: Ok this one is mean as Continue Reading …
Speech items from the journal of Lindsey H. Text 1 “While at a Halloween party, I saw a guy dressed in a plaid shirt, jeans, and a red wig. I wasn’t sure what his costume was, until he spoke in Continue Reading …
Sayings from Lindsey B’s journal “Here’s to you, here’s to me, and if we shall ever disagree, then fuck you and here’s to me” “It is better to be loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.” “Sex Continue Reading …
Text 3 Contributor: Lindsey B Informant: Amanda Meyer Title: Rituals in Sorority Life Semester, Year: Fall, 2005 A.M. Well, when we first get initiated we have a really fun week, “totally sober”, get to know you type deal. So the Continue Reading …
Text 2 Contributor: Lindsey B Informant: Jon Arrivo Title: Rituals in Fraternity Life Semester, Year: Fall 2005 J.A. Umm, let me think. Well, a couple years back they started this thing called 40’s at 4. The brothers all get together Continue Reading …
Text 1 Contributor: Lindsey B Informant: Jacob Phillips Title: Rituals in Fraternity Life Semester, Year: Fall, 2005 J.P. One tradition that we have is lavaliering. When a guy in Alpha Beta (pseudonym) gives his girlfriend his Alpha Beta ring meaning Continue Reading …
Text 1 Original Collector: Al Barnett Title: “Rituals” Class: F101 Year: 1986 Contributor: Lindsey B Pledge continues his work sessions/wake up calls and has a DU 100 in which he listens to a tape of Terry Bullock, DU fraternity president, Continue Reading …
Text 3 Contributor: Megan Colleen Hillier Informant: Kirstin Olson Title: Receiving a Son Semester/Year: Fall 2005 I had a mom’s night and my friend or whatever, the father—his name’s Sparky, or at least that’s what I call him. Uh—he was Continue Reading …
Pugsly’s Response Received from David Roth, alias Pugsly: I was a music student at Indiana University School of Music in the late 70s and early 1980s. My interest in computers was sparked by using software that ran on the CDC Continue Reading …