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When classes at �鶹��Ѱ�����began on September 5, 1877, the small community of students, those attending the Preparatory and Normal Schools, also included international students and individuals of various faiths. Many of these students were already living in Boulder with their families when the university opened. Some were young children whose families had immigrated to the United States, while others were older and had gradually made their way to Colorado. During the first fifteen years, students from Canada and Europe, as well as local Jewish students, found a home at CU.

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Photo credit: �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

With just a few months of school behind them, students knew the importance of having access to a library. CU’s first literary society was formed in October of 1877, and soon after, the students put on performances to raise funds for a new library. After a $2,000 contribution by Charles Buckingham, a local banker and bibliophile, �鶹��Ѱ�����president Joseph Sewall announced the name as Buckingham Library at a Dec. 7, 1877 event. This provided the foundational collection of 1,500 books available to students upon opening for the 1878 fall semester. The library resided on the well-lit southwest corner of Old Main’s second floor, adorned with a beautiful rug, drapes and black walnut furniture. It was initially run by students and professors, obtaining its first full-time librarian, Dr. Charles Lowery, in 1890. After some migration within Old Main, a new library was built in 1904, where it stayed until the construction of Norlin Library in 1940.

Source: Coloradan Magazine
Photo credit: Dr. Lowry overseeing the library, ca 1893. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

�鶹��Ѱ�����held its first commencement ceremony on June 8, 1882. The first six graduates entered Old Main in their Sunday best for speeches, music and prayers, officially becoming the first alumni of CU. Over the following decades, this ritual evolved. The week leading up to commencement, known as Commencement Week, featured various activities such as banquets, picnics, concerts, class plays, athletic events and alumni meetings. New traditions emerged, including the senior cane and Alumni Day. As graduating classes grew, ceremonies were moved to local churches. In 1895, graduates wore the now-traditional caps and gowns for the first time. These traditions established a foundation for the next century of commencement ceremonies.

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Photo credit: The entire College of Liberal Arts class of 1890. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

From its very on Sept. 13, 1892, the Silver and Gold, CU’s student-run newspaper, committed to “representing the best interests of the institution in all its departments.” Named after the school’s colors, the paper featured student interests, including clubs like the Glee Club, fraternities and their members’ achievements, the new football team with its early victories, advertisements for Boulder stores and discussions about opening the first gymnasium and library. While the publication did not initially serve as a platform for political ideas, World War II revealed that the Boulder community and �鶹��Ѱ�����students were largely progressive, advocating for an end to the Nazis while opposing federal overreach into the lives of American citizens. The Silver and Gold continued until Aug. 22, 1952, when it became known as the Colorado Daily.

Source: Coloradan Magazine
Photo credit: Colorado Historic Newspaper Collection.

On April 1, 1919, 23 women and 12 men at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder founded the U of C Hiking Club. The first president was Harry Herman, a mechanical engineering major. The Hiking Club is noted for its long history, presence on campus and beautiful hikes. In 1920, the club advertised in the local newspaper that anyone could join their hikes, although membership remained selective. Initially, women were required to provide letters of fitness from a physical education teacher or medical professional to join. Planned hikes ranged from their first official hike to the , which became a club regular, to the more challenging ascent of Navajo Peak in a blizzard. During the 1940s and 1950s, the club earned the nickname “CU’s Matrimonial Agency” when club member and reverend Mike Walters officiated at least 30 weddings for couples who met through the club in its first 24 years. The club has maintained a strong sense of community for over a century and .

Source: �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center
Photo credit: Hiking Club at Arapahoe Peaks, May 14, 1921. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

The 1920s in Colorado were a period of significant anti-immigration fervor. The Ku Klux Klan had significant control of the state legislature, and the broader rise of nationalism influenced local politics. In 1922, the university’s new Methodist pastor, Fred Aden, and his wife, Madge, founded the Cosmopolitan Club. Popular at many other universities around the country, the student organization served as a forum for international students, with the motto “Above all Nations is Humanity.” What began as a social club primarily for international students grew to include students of color, liberal white students, faculty and other community members, including George Norlin and his wife. Throughout the 1920s-1940s, members spoke out against isolationist or racist policies, hosting dinners, dances, galas and annual cultural-themed events that celebrated a new nation each year.

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Photo credit: Founding members of the Cosmopolitan Club, 1922. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

In 1934, Andrew Dickson won the Silver and Gold student newspaper’s mascot selection competition with his suggestion of “Buffalo.” For the next 20 years, live buffalo appearances occurred sporadically as motivation from the sidelines. In 1966, a permanent mascot was donated to the university by Bill Lowery and became the first Ralphie, originally named “.” There are various explanations for the name Ralphie, but the most likely explanation is that she was named after the junior class president. Ralphie first appeared in October of that year and charged the field for the first time the following September, leading the Buffs to victory over Kansas State University and Baylor University, respectively. Initially, she was led by sophomore class officers dressed in cowboy attire, which marked the beginning of today's full sports program. After 13 years of service, Ralphie passed away at the age of 17, having established the enduring Ralphie tradition at CU.

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Photo credit: Young Ralphie with Buddy Hays, 1966. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

Originally opened as a European-style establishment in the former , Somer’s Sunken Garden was officially renamed in 1949. By the 1950s and 1960s, it had become a hotspot for World War II veterans and “Sink Rats,” who gathered for cheap 3.2 beer, burgers and live music. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the restaurant focused more on food, as rising costs and shrinking revenue were largely due to patrons who primarily came for the free music. In 1987, new Colorado restrictions on alcohol made it less viable to remain a 3.2 beer bar, leading to the addition of a full-service bar that allowed the restaurant to serve customers late into the night. Throughout its many changes over the years, The Sink has remained a central figure in Boulder’s cultural identity.

Source: Coloradan Magazine
Photo credit: A night out for members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, 1962. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

Tulagi was a popular dance hall and gathering spot for Boulder students until its closure in 2003, amid broader changes along The Hill. The site had previously housed the Buff Club and later the Anchorage, a well-known nightclub frequented by students in the 1930s and ’40s. When Tulagi moved to the location in 1951, it quickly gained a reputation as a “raucous ‘,’” serving pitchers of 3.2 beer. In the early 1970s, as legal and financial troubles shook the business, Herbie Kauvar, the owner of The Sink, purchased Tulagi to expand his music operations. Under his ownership and with the guidance of Chuck Morris, the former manager of The Sink, the venue gained prominence, hosting early by the Eagles, ZZ Top and Linda Ronstadt. Kauvar sold the club in 1973, after which its national profile gradually declined. Despite remaining a cultural mainstay in Boulder for decades, mounting tax and licensing issues ultimately led to its closure in 2003.

Source: Coloradan Magazine
Photo credit: Returning alums dance the night away during Homecoming, 1980. Ken Abbot, �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

In 1950, law student Luis Rovira initiated legal proceedings against a barber shop in Boulder that had refused service to Edward Johnson, a Black graduate student. Although Rovira did not win the case in court, his efforts inspired students and members of the Boulder community to organize a boycott, which ultimately led to the widespread desegregation of barber shops in the area. Rovira later became Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, where he served for 16 years and was praised for his high standards of public service. He spearheaded efforts to reform state laws affecting disabled children, resulting in the Colorado Handicapped Children’s Act. Additionally, he authored the majority opinion that overturned Colorado's Amendment 2, which denied equal protection under the law to gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.

Source: �鶹��Ѱ�����Law School
Photo credit: �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

On July 3, 1961, Boulder’s first Freedom Rider, Charles Biggers (PolSci'66; MEngl'70), gave a passionate speech in front of Norlin Library, declaring his moral obligation to seek out equality. The Freedom Riders were a group of mostly Black and white Americans who peacefully challenged Jim Crow laws in the South. Biggers trained with the Congress of Racial Equality () in non-violent demonstration methods in the weeks leading up to the ride. After traveling from Montgomery, Alabama, his small group of eight was in Jackson, Mississippi, when they refused to leave a whites-only waiting room. Since Freedom Riders refused to post bail, Biggers remained in custody for over two months. Despite his abuse in the Mississippi prison, Biggers accomplished what he set out to do. He returned to �鶹��Ѱ�����to earn two degrees and continued to fight for social change with the Afro-American Student Alliance, and later with the in Oakland, California.

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Photo credit: Colorado Daily, July 3, 1961. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

Founded in 1962 by undergraduates inspired by the Yale Whiffenpoofs and collaborating with their former music director, Dr. Oakleigh “Oak” Thorne, the �鶹��Ѱ�����Buffoons are the oldest collegiate a cappella group both at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder and in all of Colorado. Composed of 12 to 18 yearly members performing a variety of genres and a 16-plus album discography covering more than 60 years. When not at one of their frequent live performances, they may be found singing under the UMC arches or bonding at Camp Foon near Gross Reservoir. The song closest to the Buffoons’ hearts is “Tribute.” Written in the 1980s by Jojo David, who passed some years later, it celebrates the music and memories shared as Buffoons come and go. In recent years, the group has become more gender-inclusive and has incorporated vocal percussion into its style. Thorne still sometimes advises the Buffoons; the name of their recent album, Carved From Oak, pays tribute to his contribution.

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Photo credit: Buffoons album cover, ca 1970. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

In the late 1960s, students were so unhappy with the food quality at the UMC’s , they took it upon themselves to rename it. They chose the name “Alferd Packer Grill” after , a notorious 19th-century Colorado prospector who became infamous for being a killer and cannibal. The students humorously stated that the food “consistently strived to achieve the high standards exemplified by the life of Mr. Packer.” Today, the Alferd Packer Grill remains a popular spot to “have a friend for lunch.”

Source: Coloradan Magazine
Photo credit: �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

During and after the civil rights movement, Chicano activism gained momentum on college campuses. In 1969, the United Mexican American Students () was established to recruit and retain Latino and Chicano students. This organization focused on providing educational support for minority students and engaged in activism aimed at making institutional and university-level changes. When the university began to systematically undermine UMAS by cutting Chicano programs and funding, UMAS responded with protests, sit-ins, marches and local boycotts. These efforts compelled the university administration to relent, resulting in increased scholarships, improved advising for Latino students and enhanced faculty and course representation. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, UMAS evolved into a formal student organization and eventually merged with Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlán (MEChA). Today, UMAS y MEXA remains an activist organization that continues to advocate for the rights and struggles of their Chicano and Latino communities.

Source: UMAS y MEXA
Photo credit: Protest at the Regent building against the removal of a UMAS official, 1972. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

On June 28, 1969, New York police raided the Stonewall Inn, a bar for the city’s gay community. This event and sparked the Gay Liberation Movement across the United States. In November 1970, the Boulder Gay Liberation (BGL) was founded, holding its first meetings in private homes. By 1971, BGL was funded by the �鶹��Ѱ�����student government and had its own office in the UMC. The office served as a drop-in social center for gays and allies, with the largest collection of gay publications in the state. focused on supporting its members in political activities and hosted weekly coffee house meetings, disco dances, and more. Despite being a supportive space, BGL faced homophobic aggression and vandalism, including multiple instances of their office windows being shattered. The Boulder Gay Liberation continued to prioritize the needs of the gay community by publishing Q&As and newsletters that addressed misconceptions surrounding homosexuality. Today, the Pride Office continues to support and advocate for LGBTQ+ students and faculty.

Source: �鶹��Ѱ�����Pride Office
Photo credit: �鶹��Ѱ����� Libraries.

In May 1974, six activists, including a �鶹��Ѱ�����student, alumni and former staff members, were killed in two car bombings connected to El Movimiento, the social justice movement. Known as “Los Seis de Boulder,” their deaths remained largely unrecognized for decades. Today, they are commemorated with memorials on campus and in the community and university scholarships, and their story highlights complex campus and national tensions around race, protest and justice.

Source: A Place for “Los Seis”
Photo credit: A Place for “Los Seis”

Self-government has been an important part of the University of Colorado’s organization and history. Discussions, debates, and changes were made through the Associated Students of the University of Colorado (ASUC), . At its inception, ASUC exercised little power beyond organizing rallies and events and providing a forum for students to meet, talk, and air grievances. Up through the 1960s, the men’s and women’s governing bodies were separate, with the women falling under the Associated Women Students. The men’s and women’s groups merged in 1967, and in 1975 they reorganized as the University of Colorado Student Union (UCSU). Working towards more independence and authority, their budget and broader campus involvement grew quickly, receiving millions of dollars from student fees. Students understood the influence officials exerted with their tuition dollars, and politics played a huge factor in getting elected. As such, campaigning for positions was fierce. Rebranded in 2010 to �鶹��Ѱ�����Student Government (CUSG), the organization continues to play a significant role in shaping campus.

Source: �鶹��Ѱ�����Student Government
Photo credit: �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

Cheyenne Arapaho Hall has long been at the center of social debates at CU. Named Nichols Hall in 1961 after the major benefactor, David Nichols, its name faced criticism due to his involvement in the . Protests began in the late 1960s, as students and faculty deemed the name offensive and inconsistent with the university’s values of diversity and inclusion. Reaching a boiling point two decades later, a study of Nichols’ past by �鶹��Ѱ�����historian Patricia Limerick argued that Nichols’ faults outweighed the possible good he did for the university. In 1989, the Regents quietly voted to remove his name and rename the hall in honor of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, whose traditional territories and ancestral homelands include Boulder.

Source: Center for the American West
Photo credit: Students protesting outside Nichols Hall, now known as the Cheyenne Arapaho Hall. �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

In the early 1980s at CU, if you used digital messaging, you might have encountered Mike Carter, an undergraduate student and IT employee who managed around 1,000 messaging accounts on the campus servers. By 1989, the �鶹��Ѱ�����Catalogues included a user guide for individual computing accounts, known as ELM (electronic mail), which explained how to access various resources for a fee of $10. In 1991, a few years after funding was secured for an email server, the @colorado.edu domain was established, allowing both students and faculty to send instant messages. The number of campus users grew from 1,000 in 1983 to at least 13,000 by 1993, marking the onset of a communication revolution as email and computing quickly became the new standard in academia.

Source: Coloradan Magazine
Photo credit: Computer lab, 1984. Jerry Stowall, �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

The Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment (CSSWE) was a graduate project developed in collaboration with the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP). The objective of the project was to investigate the connection between solar events and electromagnetic radiation particles in Earth’s radiation belt, as well as the potential dangers they pose to satellites and astronauts. Launched in 2012 as part of NASA’s ELaNa VI mission, the satellite successfully gathered and transmitted data until contact was lost the following year. Communication was later re-established, allowing the satellite to resume operations until it lost power in 2014. Exceeding its expected lifespan, the project significantly contributed to our understanding of Earth’s radiation belt, being cited in over 25 research papers. Additionally, it has continued through a second generation with the Colorado Inner Radiation Belt Experiment (CIRBE), which launched in 2023.

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Photo credit: Colorado Student Space Weather Experiment.

�鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder has long enrolled students whose tribal histories are deeply tied to the land that is now Colorado. Yet for decades, many Indigenous students were classified as out-of-state students despite Colorado being part of their communities’ traditional territories and ancestral homelands. On June 28, 2021, the Colorado American Indian Tribes In-State Tuition Act was signed into law, granting in-state tuition to members of federally recognized tribes with historical ties to the state. This change had been 50 years in the making. In 1969, Charles Cambridge, a Navajo student from Durango, began advocating for in-state tuition for Indigenous students. Over the following decades, he earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in anthropology from �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder. His advocacy paralleled the growing presence of Indigenous students on campus through organizations such as the Oyate Indian Club. These students organized Native American Awareness Weeks, hosted cultural events, and challenged the university to confront its history. The 2021 law reflects not a sudden change but the perseverance of Indigenous students advocating for access to higher education.

Source: Center for Native American and Indigenous Studies
Photo credit: Charles Cambridge accepting a grant from Colorado-Utah synod of the United Presbyterian Church, 1970. Daily Camera Collection, �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.

Started in 2006 by students at the University of Washington, (Hindu YUVA), is a forum for Hindu students across North America. Its mission is to preserve the traditional values of Hinduism by educating individuals in the U.S. with its many demonstrations and festivals. The Boulder chapter was first organized in 2022. In its first four years, Hindu YUVA has hosted cricket matches, dances, cultural tours, and outdoor retreats inviting all students of varying faiths and backgrounds to learn more about Hinduism. Hindu YUVA provides a space for international students studying abroad in the U.S. to seek comfort and take pride in their culture while they’re away and to have a few ways to appreciate home.

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Photo credit: Diwali. Hindu YUVA.

Bread+Belonging is a partnership of Lutheran Campus Ministry and St. Aidan's Episcopal Church (in early years, Canterbury Club), both of which have been supporting the �鶹��Ѱ�����community through worship, public events, and intentional student community for over 70 years. Every Tuesday, Bread+Belonging welcomes all �鶹��Ѱ�����students, regardless of religious affiliation, to share a meal and be part of a community where they are known and loved. Programs have changed over the decades, but common threads have always been accompanying students through the ups and downs of campus life, supporting vocational discernment, nurturing young adult leadership, and exploring faith and spirituality. Today, Bread+Belonging hosts volunteer opportunities, cooking classes, student leadership programs, faith conversations, and more.

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Photo credit: Bread+Belonging.

The Sikh Student Association aims to provide a welcoming space for Sikh students on campus while fostering interfaith dialogue and cultural awareness. The organization has led several important milestones for Sikhs in Boulder and across Colorado. Each semester, the association hosts Kirtan Nights, where students and community members come together to sing religious hymns, followed by Langar. Langar is a free vegetarian meal open to all, regardless of background, faith, or identity. The group also organizes campus-wide Langar Days, providing free vegetarian meals catered from a local Gurdwara (Sikh temple), serving more than 150 students, faculty, and staff at each event. In 2019, the association supporting Governor Jared Polis’s declaration recognizing the second Sunday of April, Vaisakhi, as Sikh Recognition Day in Colorado.

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Photo credit: Sikh Student Association.

Beginning in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956 with a single skier, 66 athletes from �鶹��Ѱ�����and three coaches have since participated in 101 events across all Winter Olympics. Given Colorado’s mountains and ski resorts, it’s not surprising that the majority of these athletes have competed in Alpine Skiing, followed by Nordic Skiing and Freestyle Skiing. Since 1964, five athletes have reached the podium in Slalom, Snowboarding and Figure Skating, earning one silver medal and four bronze medals. This year, at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, �鶹��Ѱ�����was excited to cheer on , , , , , , and .

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Photo credit: 1964 silver and bronze medal slalom winners, Billy Kidd (left), Jimmy Huega (right). �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder Heritage Center.