events & traditions

If there is one thing that Queen's does and does well, it's tradition. There are so many Queen's unique events and activities, that it's easy to feel a part of a very special community, and to get a little sucked into the cliqueyness of it all. However, one of the best things about going to Queen's is feeling like you are such a part of a great and grand history, and being able to take part in and shape it. coming Football

Frosh Week

Annually, the very first week of ‘school’ (although learning has very little to do with it), new first year students participate in Frosh Week activities. Depending on the faculty, students are assigned to teams lead by 2nd years called Gaels (artsci), Newts (nurses), Frecks (engineers), Teaches (Con-ed), Bosses (Commerce) and so on. The activities vary depending on the faculty as well, however most involve traditional events like concerts, parades, pseudo-hazing rituals (they keep it legal and fun, folks). Be prepared to encounter a number of really loud purple folks with wild hair- these are Frecks, and they should be yelled at- unless you are a first year engineer of course. Orientation is a week full of chants, cheers, shaving cream, dirt, running (commies) or gathering couches, fire trucks and tanks (engineers- bigger and better scavenging). At the end of the week, most students are pretty tired, hung-over and have made a bunch of friends.


Homecoming

Homecoming invariably takes place on the last home football game of the season. It involves pancake keggers (a Queen’s tradition!) in the morning, followed by drunken cheering at the game. Alumni usually are everywhere, and will often show up at some of the parties, or at least parade around the football field. After the game, more drinking usually occurs, or people take naps to prepare for evening parties.

Aberdeen St.

Homecoming has attracted, at the very least, the attention of many in Kingston and beyond, and at worst has attracted the ire of the police department and citizens. Major parties have taken place on Aberdeen St. This is not actually a tradition, however, and is rather something that has developed only after the past several years. This year, one can expect cops in full riot gear, equipped with tasers. Should make for an interesting evening.

Formals

Every year each faculty hosts a formal of some kind. The Sci-formal is probably the most notable of these events- they go all out, building bridges and other stuff that meet building code (they’re engineers after all). Other notable events include the Ninnies (Film), and the AMS charity ball. All of them provide, at least, the chance to dress up when getting drunk for a change.

Above: Alumni come back to campus year after year for the Homecoming celebrations.

Above: During homecoming and Frosh week and every other opportunity inbetween, the engineers paint themselves purple.

Above: The annual grease pole involves first year frosh climbing into a mess of mud and grease to try and receive a tam from the top of a pole.