The Why Behind Our Traditions
"But we've always done it that way."
February 03, 2026
- Deborah RootHow many times have we heard this from a parent wanting to hold on to traditions, from a child who is afraid of change, or from a student who believes that change is somehow erasing history?
Thumbing through old yearbooks, one can see photos of some classic Ouachita behaviors: women lining up on the sidewalk of Cone-Bottoms Hall to walk to church, the Battle of the Ravine on Thanksgiving Day surrounded by Model T cars, freshmen meeting at the Tiger in the early morning to hear instructions from the senior class president sitting atop the statue, and pledges rowing a boat on dry land in front of Conger Hall.
Today, all of these photos would look very different. Women no longer line up on Sundays, the Battle of the Ravine is played in early November, freshmen have a new Traditions Night, and induction takes place after classes. And that’s OK.
While we often want to hold on to the comfort of traditions, I think it’s important to ask why they were important to us. What about the behavior do we long to preserve? I often remind students to think beyond the behavior of a tradition and consider the belief behind it. What is it about the tradition that is important? Often, the importance is found in the why.
I’m not sure anyone disapproved when women no longer lined up for church. Despite what some of my students think, I was not here at that time. What I do cherish is knowing that our students can find a local church home and worship with believers of all generations. It’s such a blessing to chat with my students after a worship service and sit with them at a potluck.
I not only know my students in the classroom, but I experience daily life with them. The tradition continues because the belief in fellowship continues.
Moving the Battle of the Ravine did not erase the importance of the game or the town rivalry that lives on today. It did allow students to return home for Thanksgiving. The tradition of a holiday game may have changed, but the traditions of the visiting team walking across the highway, Rho Sig setting up a tent to guard the Tiger, and welcoming alumni who return to campus are still etched on the calendar. The tradition continues because the belief in the Tiger spirit continues.
I remember those mornings of getting up early, putting on my freshman beanie and heading to the Tiger. We wanted to be a part of the group, connect with our new community and get to know the upperclassmen. Instructions were given for various activities, and punishment was an appearance in Kangaroo Court in Mitchell Auditorium. All in the name of fun. Now, when you see a photo of the freshman class at the Rachel Fuller & Ouachita Singers Amphitheater with beanies on and holding candles during Traditions Night, you know the tradition continues, just in a different way — because the belief in community continues.
And for induction week and other social activities, things have changed, and for the better. There is a renewed focus on purpose. I’m just glad a tone-deaf person doesn’t have to sing a solo to the cool kids in the cafeteria, or crawl on the floor looking for a good attitude. And I’ve personally watched as club traditions have improved. I had the privilege of stuffing crepe paper poms in chicken wire for the EEE float, and as a member of OSF, I watched as the Homecoming tradition evolved from a float competition to a Tiger Tunes competition. Both resulted in a display of school spirit and club unity because of the belief in a common purpose.
I’ve witnessed new traditions, both in behavior and purpose, emerge and flourish. When I moved my parents to assisted living in Arkadelphia several years ago, my family was blessed by the ElderServe ministry through the Elrod Center for Family & Community. While service has always been an important part of Christian ministry, an emphasis on it has become a central part of who we are and who we want our students to be in their work, their church, their family and their community. Our students tutor in public schools, host veterans for lunch, deliver holiday food baskets and host backyard Bible clubs because we believe in service to others.
Old yearbooks tell us a lot about Ouachita traditions. We are fascinated by them, motivated by them and feel connected to them. We have most of the 116 volumes of the Ouachitonian in our Student Media Newsroom, including the very first edition from 1908. The pages tell the Ouachita story across generations. We may not have lined up to go to church or attended a Battle of the Ravine on Thanksgiving Day. Freshmen no longer gather at the Tiger at sunrise, and club activities have evolved. New traditions such as Tiger Serve Day, Tiger Tunes and Spring Fling have found their way onto the pages.
Yet we can see ourselves in both the century-old photos and the recent ones. When I look at the faces in photographs and think about the “why,” I’m thankful for 139 years of traditions of fellowship, spirit, community, service and purpose.
Dr. Deborah Root is a professor of communications and the director of assessment & institutional research at Ouachita. She also serves as the sponsor of the award-winning Ouachitonian yearbook. She earned two bachelor's degrees ('81) and one master's degree ('83) from Ouachita, as well as her doctorate in education from Oklahoma State University ('91).
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