Campaniling

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     Campaniling is a tradition that has been participated in since the early years of the campanile's existence. What eventually came to be known as "campaniling" started as a premature form of courting for young students of the Iowa State Teachers College. Young males would call up a random number in the female dorm, asking whoever answered to meet them beneath the shadow of the campanile at a specific time. When the appointed time came, the young man snuck up to the structure and hid behind bushes where he could observe his "date" unnoticed. If he felt that she was attractive or interesting enough for him to meet, he would step from the bushes and introduce himself to the young woman. If she did not measure up to his expectations, however, he would quickly retreat back to his room, leaving her underneath the campanile while he called another number and set up his rendezvous for the next night. This tradition eventually evolved into "campaniling" as women caught on to the idea that one was not a "true co-ed" until she was kissed beneath the shadow of the campanile at midnight.   This tradition has grown into a huge event, one in which nearly every student participates before he or she graduates from the university. In fact, high school seniors visiting the university in their search for an institution of higher learning are often told by the tour guides that for every student who graduates from UNI without being kissed in the shadow of the campanile, a brick will fall from the tower. Obviously, the tradition that started off as a way to meet one's mate has changed over the years and is continually added to by students.

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