Top 3 Saintly Traditions

Top 3 SLU traditions 

St. Lawrence is a University full of history and rich in tradition.  As a student here you learn to appreciate the many events that have become an important part of St. Lawrence culture.  For this blog, I thought it would be interesting to talk about three rites of passage all students should experience before graduating. 

Peak weekend:  Every year during the first weekend in October St. Lawrence students gather together and head into the nearby Adirondack Mountains.  The Outing Club, one of our theme houses, plans this event and leads SLU students to the top of all 46 high peaks on the same day.  It a great experience that allows students to get outdoors and experience the beauty of the fall foliage.  Not only is it a fun workout, it is also a great bonding experience!  

Candlelight Service:  This holiday service is one of St. Lawrence's longest traditions!  Over six hundred candles are lit at once to illuminate Gunnison chapel.  Several students from the senior class choose a reading to share during the ceremony.  It is up to seniors to choose a favorite quote, passage, poem, or tell a story, etc.  I have personally never been to this ceremony but plan on going this year!

Moving up day:   The end of each spring semester brings students from all grades to the halls of Gunnison chapel.  This ceremony honors students with awards for exceptional grades and community involvement.  At the conclusion of the ceremony, student representatives of each grade literally move up in the pews within the chapel ending with the seniors leaving through the chapel doors.  It is representative of moving up and moving forward within your college career.  It is a really awesome ceremony; I attended this year and loved it!