Why do students at this Rhode Island college scream before their final exams?

Cultures · Published 9 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: At Providence College, a rigorous two-year core curriculum known as the Development of Western Civilization defines the academic experience. To cope with the intensity of these finals, students participate in an unsanctioned, rowdy tradition called the Civ Scream, where they gather on the quad to release stress through shouting and celebration.

Founded in 1917 through a partnership between the Dominican Order and the Diocese of Providence, the institution began as an all-male school with just 71 students. Over the decades, it evolved from its initial single-building campus into a diverse private Catholic university. By 1971, the college began admitting women, and it has since expanded to offer 49 majors and 34 minors across four distinct schools, including the School of Business and the School of Arts & Sciences.

The heart of the undergraduate experience remains the Development of Western Civilization program, or Civ, which requires students to spend their first four semesters studying literature, theology, philosophy, and history. This curriculum is so demanding that it birthed the Civ Scream, a tradition occurring the night before exams in December and May. While the event is entirely unofficial, it has become a staple of campus culture, serving as a chaotic outlet for students to vent their academic pressures.

Beyond the classroom, the college has navigated significant shifts in its identity and demographics. Once cited by The Princeton Review for having a highly homogeneous student body, the administration has worked to improve socioeconomic and racial diversity through the creation of an Office of Institutional Diversity in 2011. Today, the campus serves nearly 5,000 students, balancing its traditional Dominican roots with a modern focus on professional studies and a commitment to broad-based liberal arts education.

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