| Traditions | |
- Big "C": The Big "C" visible in the hills above campus—normally gold—is often painted by student groups or opposing schools. Toward the end of school, it is painted white by the senior class. It has also been pink, blue, and camouflage-print, and is often painted red as a prank by Stanford students. Whenever the C is painted, however, students from the UC Rally Committee repaint it gold.
- Cal vs. Stanford Football Game, a.k.a. “The Big Game” : This is the pinnacle of our sports year. The axe is the prize for the victor of this monumental annual game pitting the Cal football team against its cross-town rival, Stanford. The antagonism between Cal and Stanford has gone on for a century and continues to be one of the strongest signs of our school spirit to this day. Stanford is the most despised school among Cal fans, and the Big Game during football season is one of the only times we get to show them just how nasty we can get. The stadium, Stanford’s or Cal’s depending on the year, is always packed with students, family, and alumni—ranging from the class of 1956, to current students—sporting shirts, hats, and flags of gold, blue, and crimson. And be careful—don’t get caught wearing red (Stanford’s color) the week of the Big Game, or you might get pointed out on campus, told by roaming Rally Committee members and athletes to “take off that red,” and hassled until you do.
- Card Stunt: Each football game, a stack of colored cards is placed below each seat in the Student Section of the stadium. During halftime, the Mic Man yells which colors for students to show, and the entire section creates a series of pictures that support a Cal win.
- Football Pre and After-Parties on Frat Row: The frats start drinking before noon on football game days, and they usually continue the festivities deep into the night with live music, dancing, and free alcohol. You can find at least one frat having a huge post-game party, and you’ll most definitely find lots of drunk Greek scenesters roaming the local bars on those nights, too.
- Homecoming and Parent Weekend: This is within the first few months of school and is usually when the Cal parents and alumni show up to either relive their college years or just check in with their kids. There are games, food, events, lectures, exhibits, tours, and lots of people all over campus who are all smiles for Cal. It’s a good time to remind yourself of how lucky you are to be a Berkeley student.
- Oski: This is the official mascot of UC Berkeley. This big, friendly golden bear wears a college letterman’s sweater and is often seen at athletic games and other special events on campus. He’s an undercover party animal and can be seen pouring and downing beers at the Bear’s Lair Brewpub from time to time.
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