A welcoming tradition
EWU freshmen take part in annual ’Passing through the Pillars’ as school year starts
CHENEY – Freshmen starting their first year at Eastern Washington University gathered in front of Showalter Hall on Monday to take part in a long-standing tradition.
The students, wearing their new EWU gear, were welcomed with loud music while they took pictures of each other.
Students from the Sigma Phi Delta fraternity watched the crowd from the roof of their building across the street from Showalter.
“This is a huge class, it’s so great,” said Lisa Poplawski, director of EWU Alumni Advancement.
Poplawski told the students about the history of “Passing through the Pillars” before the students made their entrance.
“In 1915, students like yourself stood right here where you did,” she said.
The alumni association and students raised money to build the pillars in 1915. Showalter Hall – which was the only building to the Cheney Normal School – burned down in 1912, and materials from the original building were used to erect the pillars.
Poplawski said the pillars were put in place in a celebration of hope and students have been passing through them ever since.
Poplawski also led the students in singing the school fight song, which took a couple of tries before they got it right.
John Mason, provost of academic affairs at the school told students that while they passed through the pillars and walked up the path to Showalter, they would be stepping on 90,000 bricks – one to represent each alumnus of the school.
“Graduation is not a possibility, it’s a requirement,” he told the students. He warned them that there would be some tough days ahead of them, but promised they would be working toward a good life of good service and companionship.
“Welcome to our school,” said Whitney Jones, president of the Associated Students of EWU. “It’s a great place.”
The students then cheered and waved their hands as they passed through the gates and marched up the path lined with staff, faculty and alumni to pick up a small, squishy cube that had the words “Start Something Big” printed on the side. The students were told to put their hopes and dreams in the box.
“It was pretty cool,” said Amanda Houser, a freshman from Boise who plans to major in nursing. “I liked the tradition.”