Wednesdays are Wonderful again

If you look closely there are 2,283 people in this picture. In 1982, they toasted away Wonderful Wednesdays with a swig of Coke. In 2006, the hope is that 2,284 people--at least--will toast Wonderful Wednesdays' return.

Photo by University Photography

Last March under the leadership of one of Emory’s secret societies and encouragement from administration, Wonderful Wednesdays returned to campus.

Wonderful Wednesdays date back to 1967. Then-dean John Stephens 37C 38G felt that a midweek break, where no undergraduate classes were held, would encourage students to devote more time to assignments and research projects.

Stephens’ plan was implemented, and Wonderful Wednesdays soon became one of Emory’s most beloved traditions. Results from a 1969 survey showed that the plan was a success in exactly the way Stephens had envisioned. “Some students have indicated that for the first time they have been able to complete all the reading assignments,” the survey stated.

It was successful in other, perhaps unintentional, ways too. In interviews more than one student admitted enjoying Wonderful Wednesdays because it gave them “a chance to sleep later than usual.”

Even Emory faculty felt Wednesdays were wonderful; 83 percent of them voted to continue the practice when surveyed a year after its implementation. Because of all the positive feelings, it looked like Wonderful Wednesdays would be a permanent fixture at Emory.

Until the University switched from quarters to semesters in 1982. More hours would be required for classes, so Wonderful Wednesdays—after 15 years—would have to go away.

On June 2, 1982, the last Wonderful Wednesday, 2,283 Emory students gathered on the Upper Field to “Toast Away Wonderful Wednesday” with a celebratory swig of Coca-Cola.

For the next 23 years, Wednesdays were little-w wonderful on the Emory campus, but that changed in Spring 2006, when Emory’s administration partnered with the secret society Ducemus to bring back Wonderful Wednesdays in a slightly updated form. Classes would still be held, but every other Wednesday would feature a campuswide celebration of Emory with free food, music and cultural performances, and other fun activities to bring together the entire community.

Since their reintroduction, Wonderful Wednesdays have consistently drawn several hundred attendees, and the three-hour communitywide gathering on Wednesday, Oct. 25, helped usher in Emory’s five-day Homecoming 2006 celebration.

As part of Homecoming, Wonderful Wednesdays are expanding to Saturday, Oct. 28, as the entire Emory community (including the many alumni returning to campus) will attempt to break the school record Coke toast from 1982 at Tavern on the Green between 4:00–4:30 p.m. Anyone who participated in the first toast is doubly encouraged to come back.

New and old traditions are important to build community on campus. Recently the University decided to launch a fund-raising campaign to support an endowment for school spirit, which would fund the rekindling of old traditions—such as Wonderful Wednesdays—and the creation of new ones. So far, the effort has been a tremendous success.—Melissa Kontaridis