They can be as grand as Commencement or Homecoming, as memorable as Convocation, or as fun as tossing a pair of Mardi Gras beads onto one of the three 21-foot steel “trees” known as the Bead Three. They can even be as simple as mastering the art of the crawfish peel.

These are some of Tulane University’s beloved traditions, some dating back more than a century, others joining the lengthy list of rituals and celebrations more recently. They are significant parts of the Tulane experience, contributing to the vibrancy and spirit of campus life and fostering a sense of community, identity and belonging that extends far beyond graduation.

“Traditions celebrate our shared identity as Tulanians,” said Heather Seaman, director of the Lavin-Bernick Center for University Life, who has a front-row seat to many of Tulane’s traditions. “In many ways, they serve as the rituals of the Tulane experience. They mark milestones, they celebrate rites of passage, they connect generations of Tulanians and they create lasting memories.”

Narrowing down the list of Tulane traditions to the ones featured here is no easy feat. The focus here is on the rituals that resonate with the Tulane community most broadly, but there are many more — including some in the making — within schools, student groups and more that keep the Tulane bond strong.

Hullabaloo Hello and Convocation: New beginnings

As Tulane gears up for the 2024-25 academic year, the First-Year Experience team at Newcomb-Tulane College has been putting the finishing touches on Hullabaloo Hello, a weeklong celebration that encompasses move-in, programming and signature events. Students are divided into krewes based on student interest and named for New Orleans streets. Each group rotates through various sessions, allowing students to learn about campus resources such as advising, recreation and health. The week also includes off-campus activities, games, food and entertainment. 

Dating back to 1940, the President’s Convocation for New Students is the culmination of Hullabaloo Hello, marking the beginning of the academic journey for many. During this event, President Michael A. Fitts and other university leaders offer inspiring messages to the incoming class. The ceremony, which features jazz music, the Tulane University Marching Band and a gonfalon procession, is followed by a block party on McAlister Way, where students enjoy crowd-pleasing New Orleans favorites like beignets, snoballs and popsicles. 

One of the more recent traditions associated with Convocation is the distribution of plain, white second-line umbrellas, which students are encouraged to decorate with memorabilia over the next four years and bring to Commencement — for more second-lining. 

“It’s a time for undergraduate students to come together as a full class to be officially welcomed to the university by the president,” said Cristina Lawson, director of Newcomb-Tulane College’s First-Year Experience. “Convocation encourages students to reflect on Tulane values and respond to the president’s call to be thoughtful, intentional and proactive with their Tulane journey.” 

More celebrations abound for the graduate and professional students kicking off their Tulane journey. For instance, for first-year students at Tulane’s School of Medicine, the White Coat Ceremony marks the beginning of their medical careers. Students receive their white medical coats and stethoscopes, then recite the Tulane Physicians’ Oath, honoring their commitment to the profession of medicine. 

Homecoming: A century-old spectacle

Halfway through the fall semester, Tulanians celebrate Homecoming, a tradition that University Archivist Ann Case traces back to 1923. 

In a 1923 article in The Tulane News Bulletin, Charles E. Dunbar Jr., then president of the Tulane Alumni Association, called Homecoming “a day each year that will mold into an endless spiritual chain of the traditions, memories and noble ideals of our university.” 

Today, Homecoming is part of a major celebration called Wave Weekend, which features such events as the Tipping Point benefit concert, reunions and more. Tailgating kicks off Saturday on the Berger Family Lawn ahead of the Green Wave football game in Yulman Stadium.

For students, Homecoming festivities begin the Monday before with the traditional lighting of McAlister Auditorium and the debut of the Homecoming Court. The student Homecoming committee plans numerous events to build excitement on campus, including concerts, comedy performances, merchandise giveaways and free food. Out-of-town alumni begin arriving that Thursday, often to revisit the city they once called home. 

Michael Rubenstein has been attending Homecoming for as long as he can remember. A Board of Tulane member and past president of the Tulane Alumni Association, he said Homecoming is a “first-class event” that offers something for everyone. 

“It’s such a nice time to be on campus,” said Rubenstein. “You get to connect with students, you get to go to your old haunts. There’s the tailgating experience and the game. I personally am a big fan of the Tipping Point concert (which raises money for scholarships). If you’re an alum and you’re not coming to Homecoming, you’re missing out.” 

The Bead Tree: A Carnival challenge

Also unique to Tulane is the tossing of Carnival throws onto the iconic Bead Tree on the Academic Quad near Gibson Hall. The cherished tradition began after Hurricane Katrina when students and visitors alike would test their skill at landing a strand of beads onto one of the oak tree’s many branches. 

Sadly, the tree had to be removed in 2019 after damage from lightning and termites. Knowing how meaningful the tree was to students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni, Tulane turned to the Tulane School of Architecture for advice on memorializing and perpetuating the tradition without an actual tree. 

Senior Professor of Practice Irene Keil and local designer David Gregor designed and fabricated an installation of three 21-foot steel “trees,” known as the Bead Three. The installation also includes a series of clear rods from which light emanates at night. A team from Tulane Facilities installed the first of the “trees” just prior to Carnival of 2020, then followed up with the placement of the two others.

Keil described the work as challenging but said it was all worth it when the first beads started appearing on the structure. Since she became involved with the project, Keil said she’s heard countless stories from students and alumni of how much the bead tree has meant to them.  

“People will stop me on campus and tell me how they used to throw beads on the old tree. I’ve heard stories of couples getting engaged under the tree, or of how they met under the tree. It’s wonderful to hear that it has played a meaningful role in people’s lives.” 

Crawfest: A crawfish and music extravaganza 

Another uniquely Tulane tradition is Crawfest, one of the country’s largest student-run campus festivals. Like the Bead Tree, Crawfest sprung up after Hurricane Katrina in 2007, the brainchild of a group of students who wanted to create a spring tradition to match the scale of Homecoming. It started out small but has grown into an all-day affair with two stages and 10 bands, dozens of local vendors and more than 20,000 pounds of crawfish. 

More than 30 students make up the management team, with positions ranging from executive director and director of marketing to sustainability manager and sponsorship manager. Students also oversee vendors, merchandise, social media, outreach and tickets.  

Sinéad O’Connor, a rising senior from Westchester, New York, has been involved in Crawfest since she stepped on campus three years ago. Last year, she served as director of site operations, overseeing vendors, volunteers, logistics and even the composting of crawfish shells. She is now running the show as executive director of next year’s festival. 

“I love the Crawfest community and feeling as though I am part of putting together something that is so favorably anticipated and enjoyed by the entire Tulane community,” said O’Connor. 

O’Connor said Crawfest has been the highlight of her Tulane experience, in large part because the Crawfest team “cares so deeply about making it an event that students look forward to each year. We try to keep Crawfest traditions constant while also introducing new and exciting themes and concepts each year. The beauty of Crawfest is that it has something for every Tulanian.”

Commencement: The grand finale 

Tulane’s oldest tradition is Commencement. Although Tulane’s first graduating class was in 1836, Case said her research indicates that the first joint Commencement ceremony didn’t take place until March 22, 1852. That event only included what was then known as the Medical Department of the University of Louisiana and the Law Department. There were no graduates of the Collegiate Department — all of Tulane’s other academic disciplines — until 1857. In 1908, Tulane had its first Commencement Week with the first Unified Commencement Ceremony, glee club concerts, performances by the Mandolin and Guitar Club, and a senior play. 

Today, Tulane’s Unified Commencement is a New Orleans-themed affair, complete with second-lining, live jazz and Mardi Gras beads. Graduates enter the ceremony venue waving sparkly green and blue parasols, usually the same ones they were given as first-year students and encouraged to decorate over their four years at Tulane. Keynote speakers have come from the world of entertainment, business and politics, and have included the likes of Apple CEO Tim Cook, actress Helen Mirren and former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Honorary degree recipients have included Irma Thomas, Steve Gleason, U.S. Rep. John Lewis and Branford Marsalis.  

Many of Tulane’s individual schools as well as Newcomb Institute have their own graduation traditions. Under the Oaks is hosted by Newcomb Institute to honor student and faculty award recipients. The ceremony opens with the procession of the Daisy Chain, which consists of over 1,000 daisies gathered by the members of the junior class. 

Other traditions include the Order of the Coif inductions, hosted by Tulane Law School to honor its highest-ranking students, and a second-line parade for doctorate and master’s graduates of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Because so many public health students hail from countries outside the United States, a collection of international flags is traditionally placed at the rear of the stage.

If there’s one thing that almost all graduates enjoy, it’s donning their cap and gown and having their pictures taken on the Tulane sign outside Gibson Hall. 

For recent Tulane graduate Payton Doyal, the Unified Commencement tops all other Tulane traditions. He said this year’s ceremony was especially meaningful because he and some of his classmates were unable to experience a typical high school graduation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That he was honored with the role of gonfalon bearer made the ceremony even more special.

“Being able to participate in Commencement, both walking across the stage at my school-specific ceremony and being a gonfalon bearer, was the perfect representation of these past four years of hard work,” said Doyal, who will be attending Tulane Law School in the fall. 

“For many, this tradition marks the end of their time at Tulane. It is one of the most significant moments for a Tulane student and holds a very special place in our hearts.”