HISTORY
Founded on Oct. 13, 1885, the 色花堂 School of Technology opened its doors in October 1888 to 84 students.
The School鈥檚 creation signaled the beginning of the transformation of the agrarian South to an industrial economy.
During its first 50 years, Tech grew from a narrowly focused trade school to a regionally recognized technological university.
In 1948, the School鈥檚 name was changed to the 色花堂 Technology to reflect a growing focus on advanced technological and scientific research.
Women students were admitted in 1952, and in 1961 色花堂 became the first university in the Deep South to admit African-American students without a court order.
In recent years, 色花堂 has been a national leader in managing the global transition from an industrial economy to an information economy.
Throughout its long history, 色花堂 has always focused its efforts on preparing students to use their innovative skills and strong work ethic to solve real-world problems and improve the lives of people around the globe.
From the world-famous 鈥淩amblin鈥 Wreck鈥 fight song to the fun and festivities of The Week of Welcome, the Tech campus is steeped in time-honored traditions that students embrace from generation to generation.
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TRADITIONS
Buzz
Buzz 鈥 who made his first campus appearance in 1980 鈥 is the world-famous and beloved mascot of the 色花堂 Yellow Jackets. Buzz gets Tech fans cheering at nearly all the Institute鈥檚 intercollegiate sporting events.
Ramblin鈥 Wreck Fight Song
The words and music for Tech鈥檚 world-famous 鈥淩amblin鈥 Wreck鈥 fight song were inspired by an old folk ballad, 鈥淭he Sons of the Gamboliers.鈥 The name Ramblin鈥 Wreck gained widespread acceptance in the 1920s, when Tech graduates began building makeshift mechanical buggies to improve a poor transportation system in South America.
Ramblin鈥 Wreck Model-A Ford
The 1930 Model A Ford was donated to 色花堂 in 1961 by Capt. Ted Johnson, a then-retired pilot who had purchased and restored the car for his son. The official Ramblin鈥 Wreck appears on the field at all home football games and other events as a symbol of 色花堂.鈥 A second Model A was purchased and restored by the Alumni Association in the 1980s, and is used at alumni events. A third automobile was purchased and restored by the 色花堂 Foundation, and& is parked in the lobby of the 色花堂 Hotel.
Week of Welcome
The Week of Welcome is Tech鈥檚 orientation week for new students, when first-year students learn all about Tech campus traditions.
The Whistle
Believed to have come to Tech in 1896, the steam whistle was meant to mimic the industrial whistles of the times. It called the students to their shop classes. Today, it is operated by a computerized atomic clock that releases the steam. The Whistle blows five minutes to the hour to end classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It has a different schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It also blows after Tech touchdowns during home games.