Seniors celebrate at Tiger Prowl

Graduates walk through the columns to symbolize entering into the world.

By Angela Case

Published May 8, 2009

More than 2,000 graduating seniors gathered on Francis Quadrangle in front of Jesse Hall on Thursday afternoon to participate in Tiger Prowl, a part of the Mizzou Alumni Association's Senior Send-off.

The event began with a few short remarks from members of the alumni association. Then participants began their journey across the Quad away from Jesse Hall and toward downtown. Students passed through two lines of MU faculty members while on their way through the columns, where they were greeted with high fives from Truman the Tiger. The walk symbolized their exit from the university and entrance into the rest of the world.

Although many students said they attended the event because of its traditional aspect, Tiger Prowl and Tiger Walk, which symbolizes freshmen's entrance into the university, are actually relatively new traditions. Alumni Association Student Board adviser Kali Geiger said Senior Send-off has been a tradition since 2000, and Tiger Walk began in 1995.

Alumni Association Student Representative Emily Rau said the number of participants at this year's event exceeded organizers' expectations.

"It's not one of our longest traditions, but it's definitely become one of the biggest," she said.

Geiger said this year's event was bigger than the one in 2008.

"Last year we had about 1,600 participants," she said. "This year we planned for over 2,000, and I think we hit that."

For some of the seniors in attendance, who still have class work to complete, the event was just a symbol of their graduation from the university, rather than a benchmark recognizing the completion of their academic careers.

"It's definitely symbolic," participant Lindsay Minarovic said. "I have one exam next week and a few papers to turn in tomorrow, so I'm almost finished."

Because Senior Send-off is held only once a year, some students participated in the celebration although they still have classes to complete before graduation.

"I actually don't graduate until December, but this is the only time they have Senior Send-off," participant Amber Amelung said.

Amelung said she attended the festivities "for the free stuff."

Each participant who registered received a free alumni association tote bag. Barbecue-style food was also available, along with Budweiser and Bud Light beer.

"I went to Tiger Walk as a freshman, and we got a bunch of free stuff, so I came back here to get some free stuff and just to take part in the Mizzou tradition," participant Doug Longo said.

Rau said the event was symbolic of the journey that students began at Tiger Walk at the beginning of their freshman years.

"Four or five years ago, all these participants gathered on the other side of the columns," Rau said. "They let balloons go, they had free ice cream and they walked through the columns to start their journey as a Mizzou student. Tiger Prowl is what they do when they're ready to graduate. It signifies them walking through the columns into the real world."

Rau said the direction students walk at each celebration is symbolic.

"Their freshman year they walked through the columns toward campus, and now they walked out towards the world," she said. "It's pretty neat."

Longo, who plans to work as a nurse after graduation, said Senior Send-off was symbolic of his transition from college to career.

"Its my last step until the real world," he said.