Running around the Res Quad on the last Friday before finals with ice on the ground - but no clothes on - may be the craziest Tufts tradition.
But the idea of the "college tradition" is not a phenomenon unique to the Hill. College students around the country participate every year in their schools' rites of passage - and some go way beyond the Naked Quad Run (NQR).
Though Tufts relieves the upcoming stress of finals through the NQR - "when the going gets tough, Tufts gets naked," according to tradition - the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) has a slightly less nude way of relaxing: "The Econ Scream."
According to Penn senior Matt Ross, "Everyone goes out onto the freshman quad at midnight before the first economics exam and just screams at the top of their lungs."
Still, the NQR is a treasured Tufts tradition. "NQR is great because it's something that every Tufts student, whether participant or onlooker, relates to and has an opinion or story about," freshman Lisa Goldberg said.
Meredith Crook, a sophomore at James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia, warned of another tradition with potential consequences.
"You have to be careful where you kiss on campus, or you might end up getting married," she said.
Crook elaborated, "When JMU was an all girls school, the rock on the quad was the last place the boys could kiss their dates goodnight before the 'mother' would see them."
According to Crook, this history has morphed into a prophecy. "Now, it is said that if a boy kisses you at the Kissing Rock, you will get married," Crook said.
If you do find yourself engaged before graduation, Crook explained, there are four other requisite traditions at JMU: "Streak the quad, climb to the top of the bell tower, find the tunnels that are under that quad and swim in Newman Lake."
Though Tufts traditions dealing with marriage may not be as extreme as those of JMU, there is one Tufts legend relating to the rite of holy matrimony. Legend has it that any two people who walk under Bowen Gate together are destined to be married.
Additionally, there is the rite of painting the cannon. The cannon at the top of the Hill, unique to Tufts, can be painted for any range of situations, from marriage proposals to fraternity rushing to advertising upcoming a cappella concerts.
Sophomore Stephen Riche painted the cannon while rushing the fraternity Sigma Nu.
"We stayed up all night freezing our asses off, but it was worth it," Riche said, referring to the necessity of guarding the cannon from rival organizations after painting it.
Even though it might not have its own cannon, the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia is steeped in tradition - although no one really knows the origin.
"It's called the Triathlon," freshman Chris Crook, Meredith's sister, said of one tradition. "Streak the Sunken Garden, swim in Crim Dell and jump the governor's palace wall. Or, you can do the entire thing naked if you're extreme."
Seniors at William and Mary need to be rewarded after the triathlon, Crook said.
"When you're a senior, you're allowed to drink the whole last day of classes," he said. "Even the professors allow seniors to drink in class. Plus, if you go back to your freshman dorm, the kids in your old room have to offer you a drink."
Some schools choose to celebrate traditions that focus on charity, not nudity: At Penn State University, philanthropy takes over the campus for one weekend when over 700 students commit to a 48-hour dance marathon that benefits childhood cancer research, affectionately known as the THON.
Across the country, many college traditions occur during freshman orientation week or during commencement.
The "Light on the Hill" illumination ceremony is a special Tufts tradition during which first-year students gather on the Hill to light candles as the chapel bells ring in celebration of the beginning of their time at Tufts.
In four years, they will gather again for a graduation version of the "Light on the Hill" ceremony at midnight before commencement.
Similarly, at the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia, freshman and senior women take part in Proclamation Night.
The University of Richmond Web site described this tradition as "a candlelight ceremony emphasizing the importance of the Honor Code, the signing of the pledge by each first-year woman and the official recognition of new students as members of the college community."
Other college traditions focus on holidays: "I would have to say Halloween is the most school-spirited day at Georgetown," Georgetown University sophomore Jessica Farace said.
"'The Exorcist' was filmed at these steps near our school, so every Halloween you are supposed to go there and then watch the movie," she added.
Halloween is a special event for East Carolina University (ECU) in Greenville, North Carolina as well.
The school was once featured in Playboy magazine for having the best college Halloween parties.
"A lot of people come from surrounding colleges for the weekend. In the dining hall they do a theme dinner where all the staff dresses up and transforms the dining hall and all the food options," ECU junior Jessica Raphael said.
ECU's party reputation is not an empty one. "Everyone gets dressed up in costume and walks to parties; everyone's friendly and inviting, and we eventually end up downtown where people are packed in the streets," Raphael said.
"Students get really creative with costumes," she continued. "And cool teachers will sometimes cancel class for the Halloween spectacular."
Additionally, some colleges choose to create their own holidays.
While almost every college campus has its own unique squirrel population, Kent State University in Kent, Ohio takes the squirrel appreciation to a new level by giving squirrels their own holiday.
Black Squirrel Festival commemorates the introduction of the black squirrel into America from London in the 1960s.
The festival is still facilitated by the Kent State grounds crews.
Some schools without longstanding traditions have taken matters into their own hands. Several years ago, administrators at Georgetown University created "Traditions Day."
Farace characterized this as "an attempt to add more tradition to campus," adding, "apparently, traditions can be created arbitrarily."
Tuftonia's Day is a similar invention. It is defined in the Pachyderm as "Tufts' own holiday observed during the third week in April... It is a time for the community to think Tufts, thank Tufts, and celebrate Tufts."
Tuftonia's Day now includes fireworks and a barbecue.
But it lacks the recognition level of what most students consider to be the "most important" tradition on the Hill: running naked in public - in the snow.
"I'm proud that I can say I ran NQR sober," sophomore Sarah Jacknis said.
Jacknis added that most students usually require copious amounts of alcohol to shed their clothing, along with their inhibitions, and deal with the reality of Medford and Somerville natives with cameras.
