One of the highlights of graduation weekend is the traditional torchlight procession down the hill to Taylor Lake. Started in 1930 by Frank M. Williams, Class of 1895 and president of the alumni corporation, and Bernard P. Taylor, Class of 1924 and secretary of the college, the event really begins on orientation weekend of the first year.
New students are led up Colgate’s hill by faculty in full academic regalia and the members of Konosioni, the university’s senior honor society, who are bearing torches. They finish their march in the academic quad and then proceed into the Chapel for Founder's Day Convocation activities.
Four years later, on the night before commencement, students process back down the hill in their gowns (but no caps), all with the torches. The students circle Taylor Lake and sing the Alma Mater, then toss their torches into a bonfire, and celebrate their last night together as an undergraduate class.
Richard J. Kehoe ’32 (dec.) wrote this verse on the eve of his graduation when Colgate’s torchlight ceremony was just two years old. Today, because of environmental concerns, seniors no longer toss their torches into Taylor Lake, but the “flame of spirit” continues to inspire graduates and their families.
Last Night
From torch to torch a flame of fire was passed last night
‘Til all the shore was bathed in the glow of blazing light;
And there in that light stood scores of silent men
Capped and gowned in the black of the scholars’ regimen.
Then with heads uplifted and shoulders squared they sang a song of praise,
Their glorious Alma Mater — their battle hymn — echoed through the haze.
It soared high — that sacred song o’er Chenango’s hills
Stirring their souls as always with the same deep-rooted thrills.
When the song was done they turned and walked to the lake close by
And plunged deep their torches, making the water cry
With pain and then laugh with a gurgle of delight
As each flame it drowned — and brought back more black night.
Soon the light of the fire was gone and the heat of the scorching flame
Had vanished completely — gone back perhaps from whence it came.
But the spirit — where did it go? For had it not burned too —
We will answer, men of the class of nineteen thirty-two.
From heart to heart a flame of spirit was passed that night
‘Til we all were bathed in the glow of resplendent light;
And that flame will burn on and on and never rest!
An inspiration for sons of Colgate to ever do their best.