Hi there New Bruins!

Congratulations and welcome to UCLA! The next few years are going to be some of the most exciting, transformative, and memorable years of your life, and I could not be more excited for you! My name is Kathryn, and I am a current third-year student here at UCLA double majoring in both Political Science and Labor Studies, originally hailing from Fresno, CA. Being someone who was full of school spirit in high school, I knew I wanted to be as integrated as possible into the Bruin experience. But whether or not you are as loud as me in the student section, I can assure you that there are a number of ways to feel connected to UCLA. While there are many aspects of this university, the Bruin traditions which shape this campus and its culture definitely play an integral role in facilitating an incredible undergraduate experience. I am excited to walk you through a few of our special UCLA traditions and how you can get involved!

The first Bruin tradition you will ever take part in is when you become Bruintized. Facilitated during your New Student Orientation, to be Bruintized means touching the waters of the inverted fountain and reciting the “True Bruin Values.” This process signifies your start as an “official Bruin.” The catch? You are not allowed to touch the inverted fountain’s waters until you complete your last final of your senior year. If you do touch the water, you are cursed (or at least supposedly) to stay at least one more quarter.

Taking part in my Bruintization the summer leading up to my first year was so exhilarating. While I had already submitted my intent to register, the experience of signing up for classes, meeting fellow Bruins, and now becoming one (officially), meant that my future truly was starting. With that, make sure you go to your New Student Orientation! Not only do you become Bruintized, but you gain excellent guidance and support from current UCLA students as you plan your classes for your first quarter and gain the opportunity to meet so many other new students. If not, no guarantee you will become an official Bruin 😉

Now, you should also note one of the most important aspects of being a Bruin: rooting against that school across town. Especially with football season in full swing during your fall quarter, I highly encourage you to attend as many athletic events as possible. But the game filled with the most Bruin spirit is the Crosstown Rivalry Game. With almost a century of historic rivalry games, everyone wears the most blue and cheers the loudest when we are playing USC. And the school spirit does not simply start during the game itself, in the week leading up to the big game, we throw the Beat ‘SC Rally. Essentially this is a huge event located in the center of the UCLA campus where students gather and get hyped to take down USC later that week. There are games, student performances, and appearances from the UCLA Athletics Teams, and overall, this is a great opportunity to bond with fellow students and alumni over our shared love for our school.

The student organization which helps put on the Beat ‘SC Rally is the Student Alumni Association (SAA), and as a proud member of SAA, being involved has allowed me to not only participate in so many Bruin traditions, but also help facilitate them for my fellow Bruins. One of my favorite memories from my first year is throwing confetti into the crowd at the Beat ‘SC Rally. I remember dancing with other SAA members and cheering as loud as we could for the football team. And despite being cold and staying up into the late hours of the night, our shared love for UCLA brought us even closer together, making it a tradition which I hold very close to my heart.

One last special UCLA tradition I want to share with you is Spring Sing. UCLA’s oldest and greatest musical tradition, Spring Sing is essentially a huge student talent showcase with a wonderful mix of music, dance, comedy, and even celebrity guest judges! Happening every spring quarter, this event is so special and acts as a perfect, unifying conclusion to a year here at UCLA. And you can absolutely be part of the show itself, whether you have a phenomenal talent performance or want to help behind the scenes with production.

The Student Alumni Association also puts on Spring Sing and it is absolutely one of my favorite events we host. The student performances are electric and bring the energy to thousands of Bruins in the audience. And for such a large-scale event to be completely student-run is no easy feat. The work that our students put into making this decades long tradition possible is rooted in their love for this university. Trust me, this is a tradition like no other.

Overall, these are just a few of the many Bruin traditions we have at UCLA– such as dancing for 13 hours at PAC’s Dance Marathon, attending Bruin Bash, or learning the “Denography” for UCLA Gymnastics meets. With your time as a Bruin just beginning, make sure to be as involved as possible to get a full Bruin experience. When you think about it, you only get a certain number of rivalry games to attend, or Spring Sings to audition for, so go for it! You never know what memories you will gain from taking part in these traditions.

And remember, you will form your own personal traditions in your time here at UCLA. From getting ice cream at Café 1919 after each exam with your friends or jumping into the waves in Santa Monica on the first day of classes, your Bruin experience is unique. The university facilitates so many traditions, but don’t be afraid to start your own. Just get excited, get involved, and make the most of the time you have at UCLA.

With so much Bruin love,

Kathryn