By: Krys Kromer
The University of Montevallo’s 2022 College Night will be the first in-person college night in years.
This poses a few questions for all incoming or transfer students, like what College Night is. From where did it originate?
College Night is a well-known tradition at Montevallo. Even though the celebration only lasts one night the memories that students gain from it last a lifetime.
According to The Fledgeling, the class of 1919 held the first College Night on March 3. They stated that, “Now our school is becoming a college, we have begun to take up college stunts.”
The Fledgeling also mentions oral rumors hinting that the celebration began as one for George Washington’s birthday.
Purple and Gold remain the leading teams to this day after being introduced in 1921 as a part of Montevallo’s 25th birthday. These performances were, “held in a dining room on an improvised stage.”
The Fledgeling states that “College Night performances changed to Palmer Hall according to its completion in 1930.”
No major changes happened to College Night until the 1950s, when “student leaders and faculty advisors decided that College Night needed a unifying theme.”
It became what it is today: one original stage production made by Montevallo students each from their respective teams.
There are three divided yet still united teams at the University.
Montevallo’s Website states that the Gold Side is always welcoming. Their catchphrase is, “There is always room for one more Gold!”
The Purple Side keeps their bonds tight and their phrasing tighter stating, “a united circle is a united side!”
The Green Team is known orally as the middle man. It is described by UM alumni Brooke Morgan as “an administrative part in the College Night Experience.”
“College night is really interesting to discuss,” says Morgan, a 2020 graduate.
She says, “I switched my Junior year to Green Side which helped me understand a lot of the technical aspects and support both sides more.
“This was a means of helping me figure out working with different people and leadership styles which has helped in my current career so much.”
Recently, changes have been made to the rules and guidelines associated with College Night. Instead of having strictly male/female team leaders, College Night restrictions are no longer restricted by gender.
Editor in Chief for The Alabamian Zoe Hall writes, “the current College Night leaders announced on Monday, April 5, that College Night leaders are no longer set to be binary in a gender structure.”
This means team leaders do not have to be a man or a woman. They can be outstanding individuals without a specific gender as well.
Former Montevallo student Meagon Williams was here when this change took place.
In an interview, Williams commented: “I definitely love that both sides have two female leaders.”
“This is something that a lot of students have been fighting for in the past few years,” says Williams, “that previous ‘rule’ was excluding so many people, so I am glad that I got to be there when that change happened.”
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