Beanies

Beginning in 1939 and continuing for decades, DePaul freshman could easily be spotted by the green beanies on their heads. The “frosh,” as they were often called, were required to wear these markers at all times on campus or risked being sentenced to Kangaroo Court, a student-run mock court designed to punish freshman who didn’t follow mandates of the upperclassmen.  Beanies had to be worn through the fall until the annual pushball contest. The freshmen could doff their hats upon a victory at pushball or be subjected to another week of the dress code if they lost. For a brief period in the mid-1950s beanies were replaced with obligatory bibs. This tradition ended in the 1970s.

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Students wearing beanies, from The DePaulian 1965, published by DePaul University, Chicago.

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Helen Roberts with beanies adorned with feathers for a Community Fund drive. 1948.

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Beanies section from The DePaulian 1969, published by DePaul University, Chicago.

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Front page of the DePaulia student newspaper, 10/02/1953, published by DePaul University, Chicago.

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“If you think you can exploit freshmen…” Piece from the Opinion page of the alternative student newspaper, Alethia 10/15/1969, published by DePaul University, Chicago.