Purdue Traditions

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Purdue boasts a number of traditions for students to take part in during their four years. From the Big Bass Drum to the annual Spring Fest, there are so many opportunities to take part in during four years as a Purdue student! I’ve included five of my favorite traditions that I recommend every Purdue student takes part in.

Purdue's campus is home to a number of Purdue Traditions! Image courtesy of Purdue Global Engineering Programs (https://engineering.purdue.edu/GEP/Partnerships)


Fountain Runs

Fountain runs are a student favorite tradition at Purdue. These runs primarily take place in the fall at the beginning of the school year. Students run through the fountains on campus, including Loeb fountain, Memorial fountain, the lion’s head fountain, and the engineering fountain. Fountain runs are a great way to bond with friends and become familiar with the campus! Some of the stops even have their own traditions associated with them. For example, it is said that it is good luck to drink from the lion’s head fountain before an exam.

The Bell Tower

Perhaps one of the most recognizable landmarks on campus is the bell tower. Standing at 160 feet tall, the bell tower can be seen from most spots on campus. However, you will rarely see a student walking under the bell tower. Supposedly, the seal under the bell tower is cursed, and legend has it that standing under the bell tower before graduation delays a student’s graduation passed four years. As such, most Purdue students avoid walking under the bell tower at all costs.

Jumping the train tracks

Before Purdue was home to thousands of students, train tracks used to wind through the center of campus. Replica train tracks now represent where these tracks once stood and are an integral part in the “Crossing of the Tracks”, a Purdue tradition done by jumping over the tracks before freshman year and after graduation. Freshman year, students jump from the north side of the tracks to the south, symbolizing their entrance into the Purdue community. Following their graduation, new alumni jump across the tracks from the south to the north side to signal their departure from Purdue and entry into a world of opportunity.

Purdue Hello Walk

Located in front of the entrance to University Hall, the oldest building on campus, the Hello Walk is a pathway where pedestrians are encouraged to “smile and say hello to everyone you meet.” You can often see Boilermakers smiling to each other as they walk across this sidewalk!

Grand Prix

Each year, there is a 50-mile, 160-lap go-kart race called Grand Prix. All of the karts are made from scratch by student organizations. The 62-year-old event raises money for student scholarships. Boilermakers head to the racetrack each year to support their favorite team and blow off some steam before buckling down for finals!

These are just some of my favorite out of the many traditions here at Purdue. Participating in the traditions on campus are part of what makes the Boilermaker community so special. If you have questions, comments or want to find more about Purdue traditions, tag us, leave a comment, and be sure to follow our social media!

Kat Kerr, BME 2022
WE Link Leadership Team
Stay Connected With Purdue WIEP!
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Purdue Women in Engineering

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