Grand Marshal Week: Difference between revisions

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== History ==

The election of the first Grand Marshals in the late 1860s were accompanied by general celebration and often a parade through the city of Troy. It was in one of these parades that the Grand Marshal was presented with a top hat bought from a hat store in Troy, establishing the symbol for the GM persists to this day. At this time, the election festivities were only a single day, known as "GM Day". However, over the years the tradition extended to a full week, establishing the GM Week known today.

The election of the first Grand Marshals in the late 1860s were accompanied by general celebration and often a parade through the city of Troy. It was in one of these parades that the Grand Marshal was presented with a top hat bought from a hat store in Troy, establishing the symbol for the GM that persists to this day. At this time, the election festivities were only a single day, known as "GM Day". However, over the years the tradition extended to a full week, establishing the GM Week known today.

In recent years, every GM Week has included Wednesday off, called "GM Day", where classes and lab sessions are cancelled. Although originally meant to serve as election day, it was found that turnout was lower on holidays, and so election day is customarily the next day instead (Thursday). GM Day, instead, usually is host to the final debates, along with various other events.

In the earliest days, the GM Day celebrations were often held off-campus, and featured alcohol and other vices. Hazing was common: freshmen were expected to clean up election posters and even were chased through the streets of Troy during the parades, with the upperclassmen trying to chase and remove their nightshirts, something known as "running the gauntlet"<ref>[https://digitalassets.archives.rpi.edu/do/d1f861a2-64a8-47a3-a25e-640a7e425d5e#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rpi.edu%2Fdept%2Flibrary%2Fhtml%2FArchives%2Ftraditions%2Fgrand_marshal%2Fgrand_marshal.html&ts=20231030173357 Archived Website of Student Traditions]</ref>.

In recent years, every GM Week has included Wednesday off (called GM Day much like the old one-day celebration), where classes and lab sessions are cancelled. Although originally meant to serve as election day, it was found that turnout was lower on holidays, and so election day is customarily the next day instead (Thursday). GM Day, instead, usually is host to the final debates, along with various other events.

== Typical Events ==

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* Election Week

* A formal at the end of the week that includes the announcement of the results for GM Week

Debates and elections for the primary, if one is necessary, typically occur the week before GM Week or early on in GM Week.

GM Weeks in the modern era typically have a "theme" around which the programming is centered, chosen by the GM Week Subcommittee. Examples of themes in recent years include the middle ages, the early 2000s, and mysteries.

== References ==

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 == History ==
-The election of the first Grand Marshals in the late 1860s were accompanied by general celebration and often a parade through the city of Troy. It was in one of these parades that the Grand Marshal was presented with a top hat bought from a hat store in Troy, establishing the symbol for the GM persists to this day. At this time, the election festivities were only a single day, known as "GM Day". However, over the years the tradition extended to a full week, establishing the GM Week known today.
+The election of the first Grand Marshals in the late 1860s were accompanied by general celebration and often a parade through the city of Troy. It was in one of these parades that the Grand Marshal was presented with a top hat bought from a hat store in Troy, establishing the symbol for the GM that persists to this day. At this time, the election festivities were only a single day, known as "GM Day". However, over the years the tradition extended to a full week, establishing the GM Week known today.
-In recent years, every GM Week has included Wednesday off, called "GM Day", where classes and lab sessions are cancelled. Although originally meant to serve as election day, it was found that turnout was lower on holidays, and so election day is customarily the next day instead (Thursday). GM Day, instead, usually is host to the final debates, along with various other events.
+In the earliest days, the GM Day celebrations were often held off-campus, and featured alcohol and other vices. Hazing was common: freshmen were expected to clean up election posters and even were chased through the streets of Troy during the parades, with the upperclassmen trying to chase and remove their nightshirts, something known as "running the gauntlet"<ref>[https://digitalassets.archives.rpi.edu/do/d1f861a2-64a8-47a3-a25e-640a7e425d5e#url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rpi.edu%2Fdept%2Flibrary%2Fhtml%2FArchives%2Ftraditions%2Fgrand_marshal%2Fgrand_marshal.html&ts=20231030173357 Archived Website of Student Traditions]</ref>.
+In recent years, every GM Week has included Wednesday off (called GM Day much like the old one-day celebration), where classes and lab sessions are cancelled. Although originally meant to serve as election day, it was found that turnout was lower on holidays, and so election day is customarily the next day instead (Thursday). GM Day, instead, usually is host to the final debates, along with various other events.
 == Typical Events ==
@@ Line 16: / Line 18: @@
 * Election Week
 * A formal at the end of the week that includes the announcement of the results for GM Week
+Debates and elections for the primary, if one is necessary, typically occur the week before GM Week or early on in GM Week.
 GM Weeks in the modern era typically have a "theme" around which the programming is centered, chosen by the GM Week Subcommittee. Examples of themes in recent years include the middle ages, the early 2000s, and mysteries.
+== References ==
+{{reflist}}