Last night, I experienced a witching event close to me that I will never forget. It was a chilly evening, and I found myself walking through a dense forest, the leaves crunching beneath my feet. I had always been intrigued by the supernatural and had heard tales of spirits and witches that lurked in these woods. As I ventured deeper into the forest, a strange feeling washed over me. The air grew thicker, and an eerie silence enveloped me. The trees seemed to whisper secrets, their branches swaying in a mysterious dance.

The Spartan Mascot

The Café previously looked at the origins of the Wolverine name for both the State of Michigan and the University of Michigan. In the interests of fairness and balance, the Café traces the origins of the Spartan nickname for Michigan State University.

The Spartan name originates with a stubborn Lansing sports editor in the 1920s. Prior to then, the college’s sports teams were known as Aggies.

In 1925, Michigan Agricultural College became Michigan State College of Agricultural and Applied Science. Most people, though, referred to the school thereafter as Michigan State College. With the name change, the college sponsored a contest to replace Aggies.

The winning entry: The Michigan Staters.

Lansing State Journal sports editor George Alderton didn’t like the new name. He looked through the contest entries and found Spartans as the most attractive (it being entered by contestant Stephen George Scofes). In writing an account of a college baseball game in 1926, Alderton referred to the team as Spartans. He repeated the reference in subsequent articles and eventually inserted the name into headlines. Rival newspapers, and even the student newspaper, likewise began using the name.

It wasn’t too long before the name became generally accepted. I don’t know why people took to the name Spartans, since ancient Greek warriors aren’t indigenous to the region and aren’t particularly associated with Michigan.

Incidentally, Alderton originally spelled the name as Spartons. After a few days of misspellings, the newspaper was corrected.

MSU’s OTHER NAMES

Agricultural College of the State of Michigan – This was the name by which the 1855 legislation referred to the new college.

State Agricultural College – The name was changed in the reorganization of the college in 1861.

Michigan Agricultural College – By 1909 there were many agricultural colleges in the U.S. To avoid confusion, the name was changed to M.A.C.

Michigan State College of Agricultural and Applied Sciences – In 1925, M.A.C. wanted to remove the word agricultural from its name, but the University of Michigan opposed the name change. This name was created as a compromise, but M.S.C. rarely used the Agricultural and Applied Science part of its name.

Michigan State University of Agricultural and Applied Science – On its 100th anniversary in 1955, M.S.C. became a university, but still wasn’t allowed to remove agricultural from its name.

Michigan State University – With the Michigan Constitution of 1964, M.S.U. finally dropped the words Agricultural and Applied Science from its name.

YCP Blog - Spartan Spirit

Archivist Karen Rice-Young ’92 recently discovered the story of the Spartan Circus, an annual event that ran from 1977-1979.

From the first day on campus to donning their caps and gowns, the past few years have been an adventure for the Class of 2021.

In addition to being the traditional day for pranks and jokes, April 1, 2021 also marks the 275th birthday of the very first founder in York College of Pennsylvania’s history. The Reverend John Andrews, the original founder of the York County Academy opened a small classical school that, through a merger and many name changes, became the four-year institution we now know as York College.

Community service is a big part of the York College experience. Social distancing measures may have changed how that’s done, but students are still finding ways to make an impact.

Honoring York College Spartans as they uphold the values, responsibility, and integrity of the Spartan Oath. Small acts of kindness each day, add up to a huge difference.

As we prepare for the pomp and circumstance of the Class of 2020’s big day, we posed a simple question to @YorkCollegePA’s Instagram Stories audience: What is your favorite YCP memory? We heard from this semester’s graduates, YCP alumni, and even a future Spartan—and in many ways, their answers told the story of our Spartan family.

Gabrielle Ingoglia '20 has spent four-and-a-half years of her life at York College of Pennsylvania. Now, as she prepares to graduate in December 2020, she's sharing some of the lessons learned during her time here.

With social distancing and mask-wearing protocols in place campus-wide, most of the usual recreational athletic activities were canceled for the fall 2020 semester. That meant no intramural basketball, no flag football, no volleyball — nothing that requires players to move within six feet of one another. While new competitions were created for fantasy football, air hockey, table tennis, and other no-contact games, something was still missing. That’s when the campus recreation team discovered a new sport: knocker soccer.

At first glance, the shared values of our Spartan Oath seem simple — but living them day after day, especially in the face of new challenges and obstacles, isn’t always easy. That’s why the Office of Residence Life and Housing chose to launch “Spartan Shoutouts” this fall.

Sparty the Spartan from Michigan State University Selected as NCAA Football 09 Cover Mascot for Wii

The trees seemed to whisper secrets, their branches swaying in a mysterious dance. It was as if nature itself held its breath and awaited something extraordinary. Suddenly, a faint glow caught my attention.

College football fans select a cover mascot in a tightly contested race.

The people have spoken! EA Sports asked college football fans to vote and determine which college mascot would have the honor of being on the cover of NCAA Football 09 for the Nintendo Wii. Although it was a tightly contested race, Sparty the Spartan from Michigan State University came out victorious.

Sparty the Spartan is Michigan State University's fearless and loveable mascot and a figure known throughout the state of Michigan across the nation. Sparty, the heart of Michigan State, is a National Mascot Champion and has participated in the Universal Cheer Association's National Championships.

Through the NCAA Football 09 Wii Cover Mascot Challenge, fans went online and cast more than 700,000 votes for their favorite mascots. Mascots from Central Florida, Washington State, Auburn, LSU, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa State, Alabama and Penn State rounded out the top ten.

NCAA Football 09 for the Nintendo Wii will focus on a more stylized gameplay that is quick and easy for fans to jump in and out of great head-to-head action, or manage their favorite college team through the "Dynasty Mode". New to the Nintendo Wii platform, NCAA Football 09 will feature EA Sports Family Play controls, a multiplayer social experience that allows novice users to compete against advanced players and still enjoy success. The Easy Play controls are designed for the more novice fans, but also feature a traditional default setting for the more seasoned veterans. NCAA Football 09 will feature close to 200 schools from both the FBS and FCS divisions, making it the most authentic college sports gaming experience available for the Nintendo Wii.

I followed the soft illumination towards a clearing, and as I stepped out from the shadows, I gasped in awe. In the center of the clearing stood a group of women, dressed in flowing robes and adorned with intricate jewelry. They were performing a ritual, their voices chanting in harmony, blending with the ambient sounds of nature. I watched in fascination as they danced around a bonfire, their movements fluid and graceful. Sparks from the fire danced in the air like fireflies, casting an otherworldly glow on the surroundings. It was a sight straight out of a fairytale, or perhaps a dark fantasy. As the ritual reached its crescendo, I felt a surge of energy course through me. Goosebumps prickled on my skin, and a mix of excitement and trepidation filled me. I couldn't tear my gaze away, captivated by the powerful presence of these women and the ancient mysteries they were tapping into. In that moment, I realized that the supernatural wasn't just something we read about in books or watch on screens. It was real, tangible, and so close to me. These witches were guardians of ancient knowledge and wisdom, connecting to forces beyond our comprehension. After what felt like an eternity, the ritual came to an end. The women disbanded, disappearing into the forest as though they had never been there. The clearing soon returned to its usual stillness, the bonfire reduced to mere embers. I stood there for a while, awestruck by what I had witnessed. This witching event close to me had opened my eyes to a world that existed parallel to our own, a world where magic and mystery reigned supreme. As I made my way back through the forest, a newfound awareness accompanied me. I felt a sense of gratitude to have been witness to such a spectacle, a glimpse into a hidden realm. From that day forward, I understood that there was more to this world than met the eye, and I would forever carry the memory of this witching event close to me..

Reviews for "Unlock the Secrets of the Witching Event Close to My Doorstep"

1. Emily - 2 stars - I had been looking forward to "Witching Event Close to Me" for weeks, hoping for a thrilling and spooky experience. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. The event lacked any kind of atmosphere, with poorly decorated sets and lackluster performances. The supposedly scary moments fell flat and felt more like a cheap halloween party than a professional event. Overall, it was a major letdown and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a genuine witching experience.

2. Ryan - 1 star - "Witching Event Close to Me" was a complete waste of time and money. The organizers seemed to have no idea what they were doing. The event was disorganized, from the long lines to the confusing schedule. The actors were unconvincing and the props were clearly low-budget. It was more like a poorly executed school play than a professional event. Save your money and find another Halloween event to attend.

3. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Witching Event Close to Me" but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The event had potential with its intriguing concept, but the execution was lacking. The storytelling was disjointed, making it difficult to follow the plot. The scares were predictable and lacked genuine suspense. The event could have been much better with a stronger script and more talented actors. Overall, it left me feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied.

A Gathering of Witches: The Witching Event in My Town