By: M.K. Bryant
College Night is one of the University’s oldest and most well-known traditions, taking place during the university’s homecoming each year.
Mary Louise Dabbs graduated from the University of Montevallo in 1956. Her experience with College Night, however, goes back even further than her years in college. She attended College Night weekend for the first time during her senior year of high school. Since then, she has only missed coming to campus for three College Night weekends– one during which her mother was in the hospital, one during which she was having one of her children, and one in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dabbs was on the Purple side during her first three years of college but switched to Gold during her senior year. She worked on the crew of the Purple side’s show during her freshman year, was in the cast of the Purple side’s show during her sophomore year, and was on the Purple side’s cast and cabinet during her junior year. During her senior year, she was in the Gold side’s show.
Now, she describes herself as being “purple-gold,” not wanting to pick just one side.
“I don’t think any other college has a homecoming like we do.”
Mary Louise Dabbs
College Night has gone through a few changes since Dabbs graduated college. The most prominent change, she noted, is that now “boys are in it.” Dabbs graduated in 1956– the year the the university began accepting men as students. During Dabbs’ four years, it was an all-women school.
When Dabbs was in school, her favorite part of College Night was getting to be in the productions. Now, her favorite part is getting to see her friends at the Alumni events held during College Night weekend.
Dabbs felt left out of College Night this past year. She was not able to come to campus due to COVID-19, and she doesn’t “do all that virtual stuff.”
Last year’s College Night was also different from any College Night held in the past. Due to the complications caused by COVID, the Purple and Gold sides worked together to make sure that College Night could still proceed.
One topic that Dabbs feels very strongly about is the lack of places for alumni to stay on and around campus during College Night weekend. She described it as “awful.” Since Ramsey Hall once again became student housing, it has been difficult for many alumni to try and find a place in town to stay when they visit. This has resulted in some alumni only staying for a day during the weekend.
Despite the challenges facing her class when it comes to visiting during College Night, she and her class remain loyal and do whatever they can to visit. Although their 2021 reunion during College Night weekend was cancelled due to COVID, they were able to reschedule to meet later during the summer. During the class of 1956’s make-up reunion, they took a tour of the school’s Center for the Arts and ate lunch at The Main Street Tavern.
As previously mentioned, her favorite part of College Night is getting to see all of her friends during the Class of 1966 reunion each year. She is excited for the reunion to be held as usual during College Night 2022.
Dabbs remained active in College Night all throughout her time as a student, and remains active in College Night through the Alumni Association.
Her final statement on the topic was that she doesn’t think “any other college has a homecoming like we do.”
Vallo Vision News 