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Valpo History and Traditions
- VU was originally founded by Methodists in 1859.
It wasn’t until 1925 that The Lutheran University Association purchased the school and operates it to this day. - The Crusader has not always been Valpo’s mascot.
The original mascot was the Uhlan (oo-lan), a violent German knight. During WWII this fell out of favor and the Crusader was adopted instead. - The Chapel of the Resurrection is the largest collegiate chapel in the country.
Dedicated in 1959, the chapel will celebrate it's 50th anniversary in 2009. - The chapel organ is one of the largest in the country.
It has more than 60,000 pipes in 103 rows. - From 1917 until the 1960's, first-year students were required to wear colored beanies.
These beanies were actually intended for the first-year students to identify one another, but upperclassmen could identify them as well, leading to the hazing practice known as “buttoning.” - Valpo once had a “campus dog” named George.
George belonged to a VU professor and was very well known around campus. When George died, he was buried on old campus where a gravestone still marks his final resting place. - Valpo once boasted the “world’s tallest basketball team.”
A group of men who were too tall to join the military during WWII came to play basketball at VU.
For more fun facts, visit the pages below
Learn and Hear the Valpo Fight Song
The “Valpo Fight Song” was originally introduced in 1956 after the student council and athletic director, Karl Henrichs, wanted to “fire up” the spirit at sporting events. Over the years, a few minor changes have been made to the lyrics. Today, the current version can be heard at many sporting events across the campus.
Hail Crusaders! Who rise to glory,
Our challenge has been hurled.
Team Victorious, our colors glorious
Are known throughout the world,
Valparaiso, we're here to back you,
Our cheers like thunder roar.
See our school, our team,
See our colors gleam.
Let's fight for the Brown and Gold!
Download Fight Song performance MP3s from the University Pepband.
Learn and Hear the Valpo Alma Mater
The Valparaiso University Alma Mater has a long and interesting history. The song was originally introduced in 1935 after being written by two former music professors and approved by VU President Oscar Kreinheder. It is sung to the tune of an old German song titled “How Can I Leave Thee?” In 1944, President O.P. Kretzmann began a campaign to replace the alma mater with a different song, but students protested and the old alma mater endured. In May 1977, the VU Alumni Association Board of Directors reversed the original verse order at the urging of the former vice president for public and alumni affairs who felt that the first verse should include “We pledge…” and “To pay…” Today the Alma Mater has been brought back to its original composition.
Hail to the Brown and Gold!
Thy sons and daughters hold
In loving loyalty
Thy colors dear;
Colors whereby they show
What others, too, should know;
That they belong to you.
Dear old Valpo.Hail to the Brown and Gold!
Recall the days of old,
The happy days which we
Ne’er shall forget.
As shadows longer grow,
Brighter the flame shall glow,
The flame of love for you –
Dear old Valpo.Hail to the Brown and Gold!
We pledge thee to uphold –
Wherever we may be –
Thy honored name.
Through years that come and go,
To pay the debt we owe,
We’ll e’er be true to you,
Dear old Valpo.
Download Alma Mater performance MP3s from the University Pepband.
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