by Hope Zachary
Contributing writer
Southeastern has many traditions for instance homecoming, Greek week, and Springfest. However, one that some students have never heard of is the tradition of the kissing circle.
Madeline Rind, a sophomore communication major who is familiar with the tradition, stated “I learned about the tradition at Camp SE the summer before my freshman year and it goes to say that you aren’t a true Southeastern student until you have been kissed in the kissing circle.”
The kissing circle is located in between the Math Building and Henry G. Bennett Library on campus; it is a cement circular fixture with benches imbedded in the ground. According to Rind it was donated to start up a new tradition on campus by the graduating class of 1939.
Chikako Martin, a junior chemistry major said “I’ve always heard at Southeastern everyone used to hang out at the library because females lived on campus however males did not, so this was a central meeting place. The class of 1939 decided to donate the kissing circle so students could have an outside place to hang out… it later got the actual tradition of the kissing circle.”
Rind said “it is a harmless, fun tradition that many students don’t even know about on our campus… I think we should bring the tradition back so people know what the circular benches by the math building actually are.”
Many students feel strongly about bringing this tradition back onto campus. Paige Adams, a junior communication major “I think the tradition of the kissing circle should be brought back to Southeastern because it would allow student couples to tie their memories to campus in a
different way than students normally would.”
Britni Fullenwider, a junior elementary education major stated “I think it’s amazing, the kissing circle is something that you can’t find anywhere else; it makes Southeastern unique.”
According to Elizabeth Stidham, advisor of the True Blue Ambassadors and Southeastern’s recruitment coordinator, the True Blue Ambassadors are planning on dressing up the looks to make the kissing circle look better this coming spring semester.
Stidham stated “Specifically we’d want to power wash and paint it then plant flowers around it this coming spring.”
Fullenwider explained “I do wish that it didn’t look so frumpy the kissing circle definitely needs a makeover. I think it would be cool to paint it, maybe put some flowers around it and a sign so people know exactly what it is.”
Debbie Rind, a Southeastern graduate, said “The kissing circle was such a fun and well thought out traditions in the late 80’s; I would love to see if come back to life on the Southeastern campus. When I was a student everyone couldn’t wait to finally get that kiss in the kissing circle.”
The kissing circle is unique to the Southeastern campus and a tradition many student would like to bring back to the student population.
“Now as alumna I still like to take my husband to visit the campus and the kissing circle to remember memories from our college years,” said Rind.
