Long time tradition still beating

BY LINDSEY HUGHES / Multimedia Journalist

The beating of the drums is a long-standing Tarleton State University tradition dating back to the early 1920’s. Groups of Tarleton students rally to beat an old oil drum for 24 hours a day, starting on Wednesday night following the Yell Contest and ending at the beginning of the homecoming football game. 

This tradition originated out of necessity, as the famous rivalry between Tarleton (originally known as John Tarleton Agricultural College, JTAC) and North Texas Agricultural College (NTAC) was at an all-time high. What started as competition between football teams had spiraled into something much greater. 

NTAC and JTAC were consistently pulling stunts in attempts to ruin the other colleges homecoming celebrations, especially the bonfire. In an attempt to protect and defend the bonfire, Tarleton students set up a large oil drum near the fire site, so as to alert any possible attackers of their presence in the area. 

Since that time, the necessity to defend the bonfire has lessened however, the tradition has lived on. Students now rally to beat the drum, and the sound rings throughout all of campus as a reminder that homecoming is in full swing. 

Most groups that are chosen to beat the drums are sororities, fraternities, spirit groups, academic clubs and dorms. Each one of these organizations gets a one-hour time slot, in which they must beat the drum for the entire hour straight, and then hand off the sticks to the next group. 

This continues until the first cannon goes off at the homecoming game signaling kickoff. The oil drum is set up in the amphitheater outside of the student center, next to the dining hall patio.

Over 50 groups and organizations were selected to beat the homecoming drum, several of them including the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, the Phi Mu sorority and the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority. 

Addi Woodrum is a Tarleton junior, and is a member of the Phi Mu sorority which had a 12:00 p.m. slot to beat the drum this year.

“I think beating the drum plays a huge role in our school spirit, because every time you walk around campus you can hear it and it becomes a constant reminder of the love our students have for traditions and the spirit of homecoming week,” Woodrum said.

Hector Navarrete is a Tarleton honors student and is also the president of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, which had   the 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. slots to beat the drum this year. 

“We were all in good spirits and were super excited to beat the drum at 2 am. Personally, a late night time slot is better because no one is on campus and it’s only your respective organization which allows for more bonding,” Navarrete.

Tarleton’s drum beating has been one of the most beloved and well-known traditions at the school for years. Being able to participate in these types of activities provides for an amazing sense of involvement and community, as well as giving students common ground with their peers.