All Posts Tagged With: "x-ring"
The 10 biggest stories in Canadian higher education
The (surprisingly) most-read stories of 2011
Photo by Kelly Finnamore on Flickr
Each year, we offer Maclean’s On Campus readers a look back at the Top 10 most-read higher education news stories of the year. There were two big themes in 2011. First, the many scandals over universities’ reputations, from Alberta to Queen’s to St. FX. Second, uncertainty about the job market for grads.
1. Time for this year’s edition of X-ring Idol
Our blogging English professor, Todd Pettigrew, dared to compare the obsession of St. Francis Xavier students with their beloved X-ring to Gollum’s unhealthy quest for the precious. We knew St. FX students would defend their tradition vociferously—and they did, with more than 250 comments over three days. Most were from alumni and students who thought Pettigrew missed the point. They argued that the ring symbolizes their hard work and the family-like bond they instantly glean whenever a fellow X-grad catches a glimpse of their band. Then again, dozens of readers agreed with Pettigrew—some even suggested the flood of emotional reactions reinforced his point.
Continue reading The 10 biggest stories in Canadian higher education
Time for this year’s edition of X-Ring Idol
A fine university deserves better than this: Pettigrew
Photo by GViciano on Flickr.
There’s a lot I like about St. Francis Xavier University. Its pleasant campus, the small town charm of Antigonish, its rich history. But the ridiculous obsession that the university and its alumni have with their university ring…
Yes, it’s December again, and that means it’s time for the annual X-ring ceremony at the storied Nova Scotia campus. If you don’t live in the Maritimes, it’s hard to imagine how crazy people are for this ring. The University has multiple web pages devoted to it, complete with close-up glamour shots that look like they were taken for a Mercedes-Benz advertisement. Graduates await the ceremony like kids awaiting Christmas, and like so many Gollums out of Tolkein, they count the days til they can get their hands on the precious, the precious.
Continue reading Time for this year’s edition of X-Ring Idol
That’s the spirit
Canadian schools have crazy fans and community too
Nipissing University maniacs. By Cole Garside.
From the Maclean’s University Rankings—on newsstands now. Story by Alex Ballingall.
We’ve all seen it: the near-ubiquitous image of the spirited American college student chanting a school slogan, streaking across campus or slogging back a beer from a Dixie cup in a stadium parking lot. It’s the sort of paint-your-body zealotry often depicted in Hollywood movies.
Doesn’t seem very Canadian, does it?
Certainly not according to the 2010 edition of The Insider’s Guide to the Colleges, a yearly publication out of Yale University that documents the strengths and weaknesses of North American universities. “One aspect of college life that Canada fails to offer is school spirit,” the guide stipulates. “Their attachment to their schools is not as strong as in the United States.”
Getting the ring
“Marrying” your alma mater and what’s behind our post-grad pride
I barely acknowledged graduation season at Canadian universities last school year (though some are still on their way in September, so I’ll hold my breath) — besides the annoyance of more people it took to sift through on my way to Tim Horton’s at Carleton — but it still got me thinking about something that’s always puzzled and amused me:
The class ring.
From what I can gather, almost every university in Canada has a thick, gaudy (some more than others), gold ring that you can pay more than your two weeks salary for to don after completing your program of study. But after a bit of research, the whole ordeal of purchasing and attending the ceremony seems more like a long term commitment then a piece of jewelry you may never wear in five years.
“Do you take this university to be your alma mater, to have and to cherish, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer (let’s hope so after four years of education), for poorer, in recession and collapsing job market, until death do you part?”
Though it may seem ridiculous to those even inside the academic circle, most schools take their gold bands very seriously.
Perhaps the most extreme is St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., who’s reputation largely stems from their coveted “X-Ring.”
The iconic band, with large black ‘X’ set in a large gold square, has its own special spot on the StFX website complete with heart-melting alumni stories and a lost and found.
In order to attend the ring ceremony in black-robed attire and finally pump their X-Ring-graced fist into the air at graduation (there’s not a whole lot else to celebrate in Antigonish, I imagine), Xaverian’s (StFX folk) must fulfill a list of seven comprehensive criteria upon ordering.
According to local Antigonish retailer, Cameron’s Jewellers, the 10-karat ring starts at over $500.
So what’s the hoopla all about? Xaverians gather on the same day every year — December 3rd — to celebrate what legend has it is as the third most popular ring in the world (after the papal and Super Bowl variety).
On the other side of the country at the University of British Columbia, the same quality of ring (of much less fame) will run students between $450-$550.
Xaverian’s claim that when they meet another Xaverian on their worldly travels, they are instantly recognized by the ring on their finger. While this may be true, even for other less iconic class rings, what’s the big deal?
Perhaps it’s the feeling of being drawn together by a common fact that along with thousands before and thousands to come you’ve survived two to four years (or more, for the stragglers) of university and you belong to an elite class of academics.
The same may be true for other school merchandise, however — faculty-specific sweaters, mugs, key chains, caps — you name it, your school makes it possible for you to completely brand yourself with (insert university name here) stuff.
The result? Congratulations! You’ve been hitched to your alma mater. And you’re paying them to advertise it.
I hope the honeymoon in adulthood entails a half-decent job.
- photo by Casey J.
