Longwood students gathered around this past Sunday night for Dr. Jordan’s Bonfire to kick off the week of Oktoberfest.
Dr. Jordan’s Bonfire, or as he liked to call it, “Let the good times roll - kick off to Oktoberfest,” took place on Iler field at 9pm on Sept. 28. There was hot chocolate, hot apple cider, cake and cookies for the students to enjoy while they sat around the fire to listen to Dr. Jordan tell stories about Longwood traditions, as well as hear Conner Freeland announce what to expect for the Oktoberfest spirit week.
Student Allyson Stone enjoyed that there was such an event like Dr. Jordan’s Bonfire at Longwood as she stated, “The speech was neat; I liked it because I don’t think that other schools do things like this.”
Dr. Jordan has been a professor here at Longwood University since 1978. He recently received the highest honor that can be given to a faculty member at Longwood University: the Board of Visitors Distinguished Professorship. Although Longwood has been around for 175 years, he is only the ninth faculty member to receive this honor. Through his many years of experience, Dr. Jordan has become an expert on the history of this university.
Oktoberfest has not always been referred to as “Oktoberfest.” According to Dr. Jordan, it all started in 1880 with the May Day festival.This festival was originally created to celebrate the beauty and grace of the students and occurred at the end of the spring term.
Dr. Jordan went on to explain the evolution of Oktoberfest after 1880 until now. In 1927, the May Day festival was replaced with a circus that occurred in the beginning of the school year. Every organization competed in this circus for a grand prize of 25 cents.
The first time music became a part of the circus was in 1928 when it was still considered a circus. The students were blessed that year with a performance from the Hampden-Sydney College orchestra.
Student celebrations like May Day, the circus and now Oktoberfest, have always been very important to Longwood students. Once the Great Depression hit in 1929, Longwood couldn’t afford to put on the circus.
Dr. Jordan shared with students that because the circus was so important to the Longwood community, Dr. Jarman, the president of Longwood at the time, agreed to give money so the school could have the circus in 1931, as long as the Joan Circle completed certain tasks.
Dr. Jordan continued saying that in 1965, the Geist chapter of the Mortar Board established the first official Oktoberfest. He told us that the great patron of our beloved Oktoberfest is Mad King Ludwig. At this Oktoberfest, booths were added to the festivities.
Senior Class President and Mortar Board member, Paige Rollins, shared how she felt about Oktoberfest approaching, “I love Oktoberfest, especially the parade; it’s very bittersweet that this is my last one.” She went on to say, “It’s also really neat to see Oktoberfest on the Mortar Board side and how it is all put together.”
On Saturday, Oct. 4, there will be countless booths set up by various organizations selling cute crafts or tasty treats. Not to mention a parade of student entertainment behind the Student Union. And to top off the weekend, there will be a line up of six different bands beginning at 2:15 on Saturday afternoon: Vinyl Headlights, Con Bro Chill, Sebastian M., The Ready Set, 20 Ride and Gloriana.
But the magic of Oktoberfest doesn’t just happen on Saturday; there will be more to look forward to during the week. This will include the Alzheimer’s Walk on Thursday at 5pm, Color Wars on Friday at 4pm on Iler Field and Battle of the Bands on Friday at 5pm on Lankford Mall. Freshman Allyson Stone stated, “I’m excited for the concerts and Color Wars!”
Mortar Board member, Conner Freeland, explained what new things students should expect at Oktoberfest this year. “The Color Wars will be different this year because we are using different paint and there will also be more games throughout Oktoberfest for students to play.” Nevertheless, Freeland doesn’t want students to worry as he stated, “There will be changes this year, but it is still going to be a lot of fun”.
At Dr. Jordan’s Bonfire, students were encouraged to participate in the spirit days: Monday was class color day, Tuesday was lancer pride day, Wednesday is Halloween costume day, Thursday is Oktoberfest shirt day, and Friday is white out.
With Oktoberfest quickly approaching, Dr. Jordan ended his speech as he said, “Let the good times roll my friends.”
