By Maddie Escalon:
Daze of Payne at Howard Payne University is underway during homecoming week.
Daze of Payne began officially in 1923 and is still standing strong as one of HPU’s longest traditions, a week of fun and games and a little bit of sting. While it is almost halfway through the semester, there is not a better way to meet new people and build comradery like Daze of Payne. It is a tradition set to build relationships with underclassmen coming in, all the way to upperclassmen getting ready to graduate from the university.
In the early years of Daze of Payne, all of the freshmen class had to participate, but as the years passed and the campus steadily grew, freshmen were no longer required to participate, it became optional. The most obvious and longest standing part of the tradition is students wearing a blue and gold beanie that they wear through the initiation process.
The beanie traditionally shows the year of graduation of the person wearing the cap. This year, both upperclassmen and underclassmen will be wearing beanies, with upperclassmen receiving a pin showing their completion of Daze of Payne. While freshmen must engage in acts to the upperclassmen’s liking, under no circumstance would mental or physical hazing be allowed.
Bill Fowler, a 1975 graduate of HPU, and adjunct professor of Christians Studies, became a true supporter of Daze of Payne ever since he got the chance to participate as a freshman in 1971–where ‘Dress Up Day’ and ‘Switch-Out Day’ became his favorite traditions of them all.
“It’s a way to create bonds, know each other better, and look after each other in a new environment such as college,” said Fowler.
This year at HPU, Daze of Payne will take place October 9-13 during homecoming week. This week will consist of activities such as paint wars, ultimate frisbee, tug of war and more.
Daze of Payne became a way for the university to show school spirit while distinguishing the difference in underclassmen and upperclassmen all while becoming one student body.
Junior Amber Williams, jurisprudence and Honors Academy major from Liberty Hill, said she had a good experience doing Daze of Payne, and wants the same for new students at HPU.
“I want to give the freshman the same experience she had as a transfer coming into a new school,” said Williams.
This tradition gives students an experience that helps make HPU the place where everybody is somebody.
Photo of staff writer Maddie Escalon