We’ve Got Spirit

A sea of excited fans at Loyolapalooza every spring.

Packed stands at Ridley for the Battle of Charles Street.

Student voices filling Alumni Memorial Chapel with spirit and song.

Loyola traditions are part of what makes Loyola Loyola— they are what students love about their time on the Evergreen campus and what bring alumni back. Campus traditions evolve over time, but they are woven into the fabric of Loyola’s 170-plus year history—and an important part of our future. Loyola’s strategic plan even has a goal to cultivate Greyhound pride. School spirit strengthens our bond as a community and ties yesterday to today to tomorrow.

Loyola magazine pulled together a few favorite customs and annual signature events—ask a Greyhound about these traditions, and they’ll likely have a story to share of a memory made and treasured.

Maybe one of these is your favorite, too.

Mass of the Holy Spirit

A new academic year at Loyola doesn't get fully underway until the standing-room-only Mass of the Holy Spirit in Alumni Memorial Chapel takes place. Celebrating the Mass is not just a Loyola tradition, but a Jesuit one, dating back to 1548 in Messina, Sicily. At Loyola’s Mass—MOTHS to today’s students—Jesuits pray with and for the community in a vibrant celebration that is enhanced by student musicians.

Since joining Loyola in 1987, Rev. Timothy Brown, S.J., has participated in more than 30 Masses of the Holy Spirit at Loyola. The Mass that Fr. Brown will never forget was in 1992, when then-president, the Rev. Joseph Sellinger, S.J., had just announced to the campus that he had been diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer.

“The Chapel was packed—fire code violation packed,” said Fr. Brown, associate professor of law and social responsibility and assistant to the president for mission integration. “Fr. Sellinger presided with tears and gratitude. There was an overwhelming sense of a community deeply grateful to God for his visionary leadership. The Holy Spirit descended upon us that day.”

Chordbusters

Twice a year for the past 39 years, the Belles and the Chimes have taken the stage in McManus Theatre for a lively evening of song (and sometimes dance) at Chordbusters.

The Chimes and Belles were founded in 1981, but it was 1986 when they first came together in concert, said Yamil Hernández, ’25, a member of the Chimes. “From sopranos to basses, the Belles and Chimes exemplify dedication to the arts and a love for our Loyola community,” Hernández said.

“The legacies of a cappella have flourished for about 40 years at Loyola, sustaining the musical bond through traditions, alumni enthusiasm, and excitement for music,” said Cheyenne Hendricks, ’26, president of the Belles.

#ChristmasAtLoyola

The Christmas season at Loyola is a magical time, as the Evergreen campus transforms into a winter wonderland. Lights, wreaths, and garlands adorn the lampposts and the USF&G Pedestrian Bridge. In a more recently added tradition, the Student Government Association’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting lights up the Quad. Since 1988, Lessons & Carols has brought the campus together in the candle-lit Alumni Memorial Chapel for a beautiful evening of Advent and Christmas music and scripture.

Mark Lee, ’91, has participated in 32 of the 36 services of Lessons & Carols, starting from his time as an undergraduate through his graduate school days at the University of Maryland, and as a Loyola administrator for the last two decades. “Lessons & Carols was not just one evening in the first week of December, but the culmination and joyful result of many weeks and hours of labor,” Lee said. These days, “the black sportscoat I wear at every Lessons & Carols is older than a number of our faculty members. Yet, singing with the group is still a great pleasure and a reminder of who I am as a music minister, inviting listeners to something greater and to something more.”

Bull & Oyster Roast

The pack is back together! There is no better feeling than having Greyhounds far and wide reunited for Bull & Oyster Roast—or B&O—a tradition that’s held strong for 74 bull roasts. Held in recent years during Alumni Weekend, B&O brings its own flavor to the longest standing Loyola alumni tradition.

For Hannah (Flury) Dauses, ’19, B&O offers an opportunity to reconnect with fellow Greyhounds, past and present, with a night of oyster shucking, live music, and dancing.

“After I graduated from Loyola, it was really important for me to stay in touch with classmates and feel connected to our Loyola experience. That's why I love attending B&O. I look forward to this night each year where Bull & Oyster ignites our Greyhound spirit.”

Battle of Charles Street

Loyola’s Battle of Charles Street is between two universities located just one mile apart, as Greyhounds men’s and women’s lacrosse teams face The Johns Hopkins University Bluejays each spring. The matchup’s origin dates back many decades, but it has taken on a new energy and excitement in recent years, as the Greyhounds men’s lacrosse team has won seven out of its 11 most recent games in the series. The stands at Ridley Athletic Complex are packed with Greyhounds for the games, cheering with pride and decked out in green and grey

Humanities Symposium

The Center for the Humanities has a 40-year history at Loyola, and for more than two decades, members of the Loyola community have gathered each spring to honor the liberal arts at the Humanities Symposium. Celebrating since 1986, the symposium’s events connect students and faculty across diverse fields of study, such as modern languages and philosophy, to discuss a common text through an interdisciplinary lens.

The Humanities Symposium is one of many annual lectures elevating academic excellence and intellectual curiosity at the University, and it’s a memorable one. Billy Friebele, associate professor of visual arts and director of the Humanities Symposium, said, “I have always enjoyed bringing my students to the Humanities Symposium because it breaks down the silos between disciplines and leads them to see a web of connections. This is the value of the liberal arts. It raises a key question for students that requires them to make connections, and this year we are asking: how can you enact change within your discipline of study to respond to the climate emergency?"

BSA Fashion Show

Since 1998, music and fashion have come together as a sell-out crowd fills Reitz Arena for the BSA Fashion Show. The Black Student Association (BSA) has fused the two art forms into a campus-wide event showcasing talent and culture—and adding a highlight event that students clamor to attend. The student planners work for months making sure every detail is orchestrated and the evening is beautifully choreographed. The highly anticipated BSA Fashion Show concludes every year with the big reveal of the Loyolapalooza artist.

Loyolapalooza

All spring, students are excited for Loyolapalooza, a student-coordinated springtime festival featuring a music headliner you won’t want to miss. Since 2001, students and community members have come together each year to enjoy carnival rides and games, savor a variety of free finger foods, and, of course, listen to great music—including the winner of Loyola’s very own Battle of the Bands. This year, Gabby Mudric, ’25, Student Government Association director of events and traditions, is helping to plan the concert for her fellow Greyhounds.

“Loyolapalooza is a very special end-of-the-year celebration for Greyhounds and all their accomplishments,” said Mudric. “It’s one of the many ways we bring students together—playing yard games on the Quad, interacting with students from other classes, and just listening to music on a sunny day. I’m so grateful to be a part of bringing my favorite Loyola tradition to life.”

Senior Soirée - Commencement

Dancing under the Loyola lights one last time, graduating Greyhounds celebrate four unforgettable years of memories at Senior Soirée. The senior class counts down all year to graduation and celebrates each of the 50 days leading up to Commencement during Senior Countdown Events (another amazing Loyola tradition). But the gala serves as the bookend of the Loyola experience. Greyhounds come together in true Evergreen fashion, dressed to the nines for one last hurrah.