Nassau Hall 1874

Origins of Cane Spree

Each Fall, representatives of the entering Freshman Class take on the Sophomore Class in a series of athletic competitions, that now include volleyball, swimming, touch football, and basketball. Although the date, locale, number and kind of events have changed since the first contests in the 1860s, Cane Spree has always played a significant role in forging class spirit.

While a victory in head-to-head competition is sought, it is the overall competition that is the most important, and in most instances the Sophomores have prevailed. The winning competitors in each contest are given the tee-shirts sporting the Class Numerals of their vanquished foes. These prized trophies serve to taunt the losers throughout their Princeton career, sometimes even reappearing in later years at Reunions.

Hazing of Freshmen had been a common practice, with a 1764 account stating that students of the day gave and received "tokens of respect and subjection." This took several forms, such as head shaving or forcing a student to wash his feet. In a highly publicized instance, several freshmen in the Class of 1882 retaliated by capturing two sophomores, shaving their heads, and paddling them severely. Upon being freed, the two sophomores armed themselves and shot and wounded the prime instigator.

Cane Spree evolved from more informal class customs around the time of the American Civil War, when it became fashionable for gentlemen to carry walking canes. The University Archives in Seeley Mudd Library has many examples of these artifacts, some quite elaborate. Among the intricate details chiseled into the wood are the owner's name, class, and hometown; his classmates names and states (often carved by the classmate himself), names of the Faculty, and in some instances, the University Seal, names of the college, Greek phrases, etc.

In 1865 upperclassmen concluded that freshmen should not carry canes. One evening the sophomores attempted to enforce this "rule," by seizing the canes when the classes were strolling on Nassau Street, resulting in a major brawl. This encounted is generally considered to the the first "cane spree," the latter word a then-common term for ruckus. In the years that followed, the confrontations became a standard, scheduled --though unsanctioned-- fixture of the college, with established rules and dates. For a period, the Freshmen were advised and supervised by representatives from the Junior class, while the Sophomores were coached by the Seniors.

Disperse, Young Gentlemen  

In the fall of 1868, newly appointed President James McCosh is reported to have seen his first cane spree. Newly arrived from Ireland, and little acquainted with Princeton customs, he was surprised to see cane spree well under way and things becoming rowdy. The townspeople had gathered round to enjoy the fun, and there was quite a crowd, all cheering and with fights breaking out. With great excitement, President McCosh came running from his home and with an agitated voice vibrating with broad Celtic r's cried: "Disperse, young gentelmen! For shame! Disperse to your rooms!"

By 1869 the sophomore class published a proclamation forbidding freshmen to carry canes, and confronted those who dared ignore their orders. These informal skirmishes soon gave rise to an organized contest, and in the early 1870s it moved onto campus, with an elaborate set of rules.

The traditional spot for the event was in front of Witherspoon at midnight on the evening of the October full moon. Students carried oil-soaked broom torches to improve visibility, and the freshmen, dress in white, and the sophomores (in black) selected representatives in three weight classes. However, these organized bouts did little to quell the inter-class mayhem. Rather, they were considered "preliminary" bouts, to be followed by more chaotic "general cane spree" (sometimes called "Class Rush") involving all underclassmen present that included much tearing of clothing and blackening of eyes.

Dear Family-- Freshman Year at Princeton is a Riot

According to published reports, the Class of 1878 defeated the Class of 1879 by taking 70 canes to a mere 20 captured by the freshmen class.

The date and location of Cane Spree has changed throughout the years, as well. In early years, it occurred on what is now Cannon Green, later it was held in the Trophy Room of the gymnasium (before Dillon or Jadwin), often on Brokaw Field, and for many years, on the lawn by Witherspoon Hall. A 1932 letter reports that this last location featured "bleachers around a hollow square and the installation of powerful spot lights on one of the upper floors of Witherspoon." The use of lights eliminated the use of broom torches which had been "more effective and picturesque, although less hygienic."

It would appear that the general mayhem of Cane Spree continued virtually unabated for several decades, as this letter from Bob Clifford '33 to his parents in 1929 would attest:

The Cane Spree was most exciting, nearly 750 boys being present. The Freshman won the lightweight fall and a Soph took the middleweight bout. Following this second bout, old fruit was exchanged between the two classes. After the uproar was over, the heavyweight bout was staged and the Soph won, whereupon the Sophs charged the Freshmen. About a half [sic] of the Freshmen left. A free-for-all ensued. Frank, the chief proctor, and two or three football men tried to stop the rumpus. Then everybody turned on them. We roughed them up for about fifteen minutes and then turned and headed for Nassau Street. The riot was on! Somehow of or other I found myself in the front rank of the mob, 500 or 600 strong, tearing down Nassau Street. We all piled into the first movie, stayed there for a minute, and then tore out for the other movie. Frank and the other proctors, Mike and Harry and two policemen beat us there,, so we did not get in.

In an effort to tame the event and keep it on campus, published rules for Cane Spree appeared at about this time, stating:

1. General hostilities are not to begin until after the individual bouts.

2. Dangerous missles are not to be used by the participants.

3. After the conclusion of the Cane Spree, there will be no   parading in the streets in an undressed condition.

And perhaps most importantly, the so-called "Riot Clause," which stated that

"Any undergraduate ...guilty...of participating in a riot renders himself liable to dismissal from college."

Changes Do Not Deter Class Spirit

These rules notwithstanding, a writer in 1941 reported:

Class fervor usually finds means of manifestation is a host of uncensored terms of endearment, egg throwing, and stripping of every conceivable bit of clothing from a fellow undergraduate. The trail of torn clothing on Brokaw Field is mute testimony that the classic encounter has occurred.. Firecrackers, rocks, and iron bedsteads were one thought to be the solution, but cautious Christian Gauss has forbidden the hurling of dangerous missiles. Not discouraged by this edict, undergraduates have resolved to less terrifying methods, finding any oleaginous mixture of unsavory foodstuffs quite satisfactory."

Additional contests were added in later years, most notably track and football in 1951, softball the following year, and then tennis, basketball, and swimming in 1953. The concluding event that year was a tug-of-war held on "the narrowest portion of Lake Carnegie" so that the losers would be pulled into the lake!

The Class of 1954 became the first class to win Cane Spree two years in a row, a feat later accomplished by the Classes of 1962, 1970, and 2001.

Cane Spree between the Classes of 1973 and 1974 featured the first appearance of women in coed competition, and shortly thereafter a full range of women's events was added as well.

Like many aspects of Princeton tradition, Cane Spree has its roots in student activities long forgotten. In 1948, the Nassau Sovereign wrote these words:   "Now more mild-mannered than murderous, they still provide innumerable opportunities for the frosh and sophs to bump heads."

This is adapted from