For the Good student life & traditions

The balance between academics and student life defines the Otterbein experience. “There was no getting lost at Otterbein,” said Debbie Ewell Currin ’67, “The ability to get to know people — for a shy girl from Cincinnati — was easy, and the warmth and encompassing feeling reached out to me, and never let go. Knowing professors would be there if I needed help and having people believe in me was encouraging. Forming lifelong friendships and meeting my husband was life changing. Best of all, having a curriculum that prepared me so well for my chosen profession to be an elementary teacher was something I benefitted from for years ahead.”

While that close-knit community has remained constant, the activities and interests of students have evolved over the years.

The United States enters WWI; women take on more roles on campus.

The first Scrap Day competitions take place between freshmen and sophomores, including a tug-of-war across Alum Creek.

Otterbein University becomes Otterbein College.

First Social Organizations

The first literary society was established in 1851 for students to socialize around a common interest. By 1872 there were four societies — two for men and two for women.

Groups of friends from these societies formed underground social clubs, resulting in the first fraternities, Pi Kappa Phi and Pi Beta Sigma, in 1909, and the first sorority, Sigma Alpha Tau, in 1910. These “secret societies” were disbanded by the administration in 1916 — but the trustees later had a change of heart, allowing social clubs on campus in 1921.

Tan and Cardinal publishes its first issue.

Daylight saving time is created.