Sewanee College

[cavscout]

So I'm at the Dr.s Office the other day and we begin a discussion about kilts and he inquires if I attended Sewanee College in TN because the students there apparently wear kilts to sporting events. I replied I did not but that it's a great tradition I'm surprised I had not heard of this.

Anyone else know about the college? I didn't see anything on their web site about it or a photo gallery that might show this.

http://www.sewanee.edu/

[macwilkin]

So I'm at the Dr.s Office the other day and we begin a discussion about kilts and he inquires if I attended Sewanee College in TN because the students there apparently wear kilts to sporting events. I replied I did not but that it's a great tradition I'm surprised I had not heard of this.

Anyone else know about the college? I didn't see anything on their web site about it or a photo gallery that might show this.

http://www.sewanee.edu/

It stands to reason, as Sewanee/University of the South's Theological Seminary is affiliated with the Episcopal Church.

Regards,

Todd

[kiltedsawyer]

I have friends that attende Sewanee, but never heard about kilts there, maybe it's something new. I did find out recently that marching band at the College of Wooster in Ohio wears the kilt. There is an interesting story of how that started as well:

"The Scot Band uniforms are one of the most recognized symbols of The College of Wooster. The idea of using a Scottish style uniform came in the late 1930's while trying to develop a new band uniform. Through a generous donation by alumnus Birt Babcock, the school purchased the first shipment of MacLeod tartan kilts. The MacLeod tartan had no special significance at the time other than that the tartan matched school colors.

However, those first kilts did not make it from Scotland. In 1939, that fateful first shipment of kilts was sunk in the Atlantic by a German submarine. Another shipment did make the journey across the Atlantic, and in 1940 the kilts made their debut."

[Kilt TN]

My family is from that area, and now that you mention it I do remember see guys in kilt up there, has something to do with the fraternities I think.

[JSFMACLJR]

So I'm at the Dr.s Office the other day and we begin a discussion about kilts and he inquires if I attended Sewanee College in TN because the students there apparently wear kilts to sporting events. I replied I did not but that it's a great tradition I'm surprised I had not heard of this.

Anyone else know about the college? I didn't see anything on their web site about it or a photo gallery that might show this.

http://www.sewanee.edu/

It is not "Sewanee College"! Rather, it is the University of the South, in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is affectionately called "Sewanee" by it's alumni. I happen to be one of those alumni.

The kilts are worn by the members of a a drinking club, The Highlanders. Members wear the kilt to sporting events, and various on-campus social events. The dress worn is not always...traditional! At least when I was there I dressed properly!

For your information, there is another drinking club: the Wellingtons.

Cheers,
Sandford
Class of 1984

[JSFMACLJR]

I have friends that attende Sewanee, but never heard about kilts there, maybe it's something new. "

Quite old, actually. Perhaps 50 or 60 years old, maybe older. I will try to find out.

[thescot]

I wonder if that guy was thinking of the Maryville College Scots, from Maryvill, TN. I know some of their fans turn out kilted--as well they should with a team name like Fighting Scots!

Our son is off to play basketball for LaGrange College next fall, and they play the Scots . . .unfortuantely!

[TNKiltedWolf]

The Gatlinburg-Pittman High School in TN mascot is called the Highlander, and if I recall correctly from a guy I knew in the marching band, their uniforms were kilts!

Our pastor is a Sewanee graduate, and owns a kilt. (although I have yet to see him wear it)

I attended an Orchestra camp there, but don't recall seeing anyone running around in a kilt.

[KiltedDawg]

The University of the South was modeled after traditional British universities. Many facets of the school, including the architecture and the wearing of academic gowns to class stem from Oxford, Cambridge, and the like. Sewanee has a lively greek system, but also numerous societies and clubs, much like the British counterparts. The Highlanders and Wellingtons are long established (several decades) "social" (drinking) clubs. Memberhip is offered to around 30 members of the Jr/Sr class and is by invitation only. For the Highlanders, the Grand Laird and Vice Laird serve as the leaders of the HIghlanders and organize most outings. Typically, parties are held before major events on campus and then a processional (with piper) is made to/into the event. It is/was a great deal of fun.

Most of the kilts were made out of various tartan fabrics by dorm matrons on campus and passed down to newer members as people graduated. Some of us did have real kilts, as I brought mine from my time at St. Andrews. I would imagine that more members have better kilts today and internet merchants and many xmarks sponsors make getting a real kilt much easier and more affordable.

Being a Highlander was a great deal of fun and helped make Sewanee the truely special place it is. Traditions are hard to keep and Sewanee has many which are truely unique.

My guess why people can't find too much about these clubs on the Sewanee website is that the Universty does not want to play up the dring club persona to folks. It's like the "Party Weekends" held three times a year there. They happen, the're great, but the don't want too much attention brought to them.

Hope this helps.....

[McFarkus]

I lived in Chattanooga for a while and went to church just down the mountain from Sewanee in South Pittsburgh. Kilted Dawg gives a really good sense of the school. I visited when I was considering going there for seminary. It's really big on tradition - a very good school.