Looking back at “The Log”

After 100 years of operation, there are bound to be parts of Eastern University’s legacy that got swept under the proverbial rug. Clubs, ministries, societies and activities come and go naturally as students dedicate themselves to fresh ideas while reinventing the old. Even traditions that span decades eventually go out of style for one reason or another. 

With the help of “The Log” – Eastern’s now-extinct yearbook – I uncovered some of the most unique and interesting parts of campus life that are sadly no longer with us.   

Orientation week, aka frosh week,  used to be filled with chaos during the first twenty years of Eastern Baptist College. Frosh week consisted of the seniors creating punishments and mild hazing for the freshman, before “sneaking” off for a class trip. Juniors supposedly attempted to track down the seniors due to jealousy, but seniors somehow always managed to slip away. Senior sneak locations included New York City, Hampton Roads, VA and Cape Cod among other places before they dissolved in the early 1970’s. By 1972, the senior sneak had to be advertised to get people on board, but still had low attendance.

There have been many mission groups and outreach programs directed by Eastern students over the years, but one decided to go in a particularly silly direction. According to the 1995 edition of “The Log,” Clown Connection was, “among the oldest ministry groups at Eastern College.” The goal of Clown Connection was to entertain local churches, shelters, hospitals and prisons as clowns and spread the gospel to “children of all ages.” Clown Connection unfortunately ended after the 1990’s. 

The 2000s brought a new tradition to Eastern in the form of Mr. Eastern pageants. In a highly competitive battle of talent and hijinks located in the Dining Commons, male students fought for the title of Mr. Eastern. A night filled with dancing, costumes and vocal performances, the pageant aimed to find someone possessing the most “overall awesomeness,” according to a 2010 Waltonian article. 2010 was also the last year of Mr. Eastern, with junior Shaant Shishmanian claiming the crown. 

Miss Eastern was introduced a few years after Mr. Eastern and took place during the spring semester. Similarly, Miss Eastern focused on talent, pizazz and generally having a good time. Miss Eastern hosted their last contest in spring of 2012.  

There was a time when Eastern’s literary societies ruled the school. According to the 1955 edition of “The Log,” “A literary society is a small intimate circle of associations, with the emphasis upon true Christian fellowship, giving closer contacts than are possible on a large campus. The particular societies are local, and are not affiliated with national fraternities, sororities, or honor societies.” 

There you have it. The simplest explanation I could find for what Greek life was on Eastern’s campus. Although they weren’t chapters of larger fraternities and sororities, Eastern Greek life still knew how to have fun. Homecoming used to include Greek life cheering contests at bonfire pep rallies and floats in the homecoming parade (yes, there used to be a homecoming parade). 

For every campus with Greek life, there is also the craze of rush week. Eastern’s rush week was often represented in “The Log” as part of the “campus activities” collage. A popular tradition seemed to include having an Amish themed dinner, fake beards and all. Eastern’s Greek life fizzled out in the early 1980’s and by 1984, there was only one co-ed, national honors society represented in “The Log,” Sigma Zeta. 

As previously mentioned, “The Log” was the Eastern yearbook that lasted from 1954 to 2014 – sixty issues total. Technically speaking, “The Sheaf” was the yearbook for the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary with copies dating back to the 1940’s. Now “The Log” has since been replaced with Eastern’s social media pages, but we all know they don’t provide the same awkward charm of a yearbook.

 Without a physical log of all the good times Eastern University’s experienced in the last decade, we can hardly expect future students to reminisce on the legacy we’re creating right now. Will “The Log” ever be revived? Who knows, but for now we have sixty years worth of memories to enjoy.