Why Colgate University considers the number thirteen its most auspicious and lucky charm
In short: At Colgate University, thirteen is not a superstition but a foundational identity. From the thirteen men who founded the school to its zip code, address, and even a campus-wide speed limit, the number permeates daily life. This tradition even extends to the origin of the modern American college spring break.
Founded in 1819 by thirteen men—six clergymen and seven laymen—Colgate University has woven the number thirteen into its institutional fabric. The lore suggests the school began with thirteen dollars, thirteen prayers, and thirteen articles. Today, this legacy is maintained through the Tredecim Senior Honor Society, which consists of thirteen men and thirteen women, and the celebration of Colgate Day on every Friday the 13th. Even the campus geography reflects this: the university is located at 13 Oak Drive, and its zip code, 13346, begins with thirteen while the remaining digits sum to thirteen. On the upper campus, motorists are restricted to a 13 mile per hour speed limit.
Beyond its numerical quirks, Colgate has played a surprising role in American collegiate culture. In 1936, the university’s swim team traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for spring training at the Casino Pool. This excursion is widely credited as the genesis of the modern college spring break tradition, which subsequently spread to universities nationwide. The campus itself, situated on 575 acres in Hamilton, New York, is built largely of stone, with the oldest structure, West Hall, constructed by students and faculty in 1827 using stone from a local quarry.
The university’s history is also marked by significant shifts in social and academic policy. While it began as an all-male institution, it became fully coeducational in 1970. In recent years, the school has grappled with its past, notably removing the name of eighth president George Barton Cutten from a residential complex in 2017 due to his history of promoting anti-immigration and racist beliefs. Today, the university maintains a strong commitment to sustainability, having received a perfect score from the Princeton Review in 2015, and continues to be recognized as a highly selective institution, often categorized as a Hidden Ivy.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Colgate University
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