University of Michigan: The ‘M’ Legend, Engineering Arch Nuptials, and Hash Bash

            The University of Michigan is full of interesting traditions and superstitions that relate to the school’s history and also connects the campus of students with the community around the campus. Two of the more superstitions at the University of Michigan are the ‘M’ legend and the engineering arch nuptials. A popular tradition of the University of Michigan’s campus is hash bash.

            The ‘M’ legend is a superstition known to students at the University of Michigan. The superstition states that stepping on the bronze ‘M’ in the middle of campus before your first blue book exam will cause you to fail that exam and possibly the class. Some students even avoid stepping on the bronze ‘M’ after their first blue book exam. There is a way to reverse the effect of this superstition; however, it is near impossible to do. The way to do this is to run from the Museum of Natural History on campus to the back of the Bell Tower and back. However, you must start this at the stroke of midnight and complete this task before the clock finishes its twelve chimes. The round trip distance between these buildings is about half a mile.

            Another superstition of the University of Michigan’s campus is the engineering arch nuptials. This superstition has a happier ending than the past superstition. This superstition states that if couples kiss underneath the engineering arch at midnight, then the couple will eventually get married. This does not happen as much with couples in college, but many alumni who get married on campus tend to use this arch as a part of their big day.

            A popular tradition at the University of Michigan is hash bash, which is essentially a huge street fair in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This tradition has been going on for over thirty years, and was created in an attempt to legalize marijuana. Now hash bash is an all day party with bands and hippie vendors.

            To learn more about the University of Michigan’s campus traditions visit http://www.unigo.com/articles/legends_of_the_university_of_michigan_campus/ (used as a source).