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Go Dawgs!
The University of Georgia
Location: Athens, GA
Nickname: Bulldogs
Type of School: Public Land Grant Research University
Mascot: “Uga X” (pure white English Bulldog)
Total student body: 37,348 (Fall 2024)
University Established: 1785
Football Stadium: Sanford Stadium
Capacity: 93,033
Team Colors: Bulldog red, Arch black, and Chapel Bell white
Traditions
"The Arch"
Constructed in the late 1850s, the most recognized symbol of the University of Georgia stands watch over North Campus. The three pillars of the black iron arch symbolize wisdom, justice, and moderation, as they do on the State Seal of Georgia. For most, if not all students at the University of Georgia, “The Arch” signifies a rite of passage only granted a student after they are handed their diploma at commencement.
As the legend goes, in 1905, a freshman by the name of Daniel Redfearn vowed to never pass under “the Arch” because he believed that until he graduated from the university, he would not possess the three virtues for which the University of Georgia stands – Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.
And so the superstition began and remains to this day. It is believed, that if an undergraduate student walks under “The Arch” during their time in Athens, they will not graduate on time or possibly not graduate at all.
With that fear constantly looming, the faithful undergrads keep their vow of not walking under “The Arch” by going out of their way to step around it. This is evident by the worn-down steps around the edge of the pillars.
Meanwhile, those who have finished their degrees at the university can smile as they walk under “The Arch” for the first time with the utmost pride for what they have finally accomplished.
Undergrads avoiding "The Arch", a line going to finally walk under it. And a graduation cap commemorating the wait!
Alma Mater
From the hills of Georgia’s northland
Beams thy noble brow,
And the sons of Georgia rising
Pledge with sacred vow.
‘Neath the pine tree’s stately shadow
Spread thy riches rare,
And thy sons, dear Alma Mater,
Will thy treasure share.
And thy daughters proudly join thee,
Take their rightful place,
Side by side into the future,
Equal dreams embrace.
Through the ages, Alma Mater,
Men will look to thee;
Thou the fairest of the Southland
Georgia’s Varsity.
Chorus:
Alma Mater, thee we’ll honor,
True and loyal be,
Ever crowned with praise and glory,
Georgia, hail to thee.
Ringing the Chapel Bell
Located on UGA’s North Campus not far from “The Arch”, a Chapel Bell sits perched, as a reminder of one of the university’s oldest traditions, with students, alumni, faculty and staff, and even everyday Athenians lining up to ring it after big wins. Or little wins for that matter. Anyone can step up and ring it for any reason, at any time.
Jordan, an undergraduate student at UGA loves that, “You can celebrate victories of all kinds, from doing well on exams to accomplishing big goals too.” Jordan says he loves the concept of celebrating “whatever you want to, whenever you can.”
“It’s nice to kind of have the bell to celebrate yourself and celebrate your friends too, I love walking around campus and hearing that sound because you know that something good is happening in someone’s life.”
Finding the Dawgs
There are more than 50 bulldog statues scattered around the Athens, GA area, each with a different personality and unique appearance. Athens-Oconee Junior Woman’s Club members, Linda Ford and Julie Walters established the “We Let the Dogs Out” project to support AIDS Athens.
Students are encouraged to find as many of the dawgs as they can, snap a selfie and take a moment to appreciate the diversity they represent.
Interesting Facts / Trivia
- Dr. Crawford Long, the first man to use ether as an anesthetic in surgery, studied at UGA and roomed with Alexander Stephens, Vice President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War.
- The Demosthenian Literary Society at UGA, founded in 1803, is one of the oldest university organizations in America. Alumni includes Joel Furr, the first person to refer to junk e-mail as “spam.”
- UGA is one of the three oldest public schools in the country, as it was founded in 1785.
- A goat was the first mascot of the University of Georgia. “UGA” the Bulldog didn’t become the school’s official mascot until 1956.
- Ryan Seacrest of American Idol went to UGA, along with Alton Brown of Good Eats, Wayne Knight of Seinfeld, among others.
- Many popular bands have come out of the University of Georgia, including Lady A, the B-52s , and R.E.M.
- Once a year, the University of Georgia puts on public display, in the Richard Russell Special Collections Library, the only surviving copy of the Constitution of the Confederate States of America.