The tradition of marking student milestones with the ringing of the Old College Hall bell has its origins in some of Â鶹ӰÊÓ's earliest history.
In the late 1880s or early 1900s, incoming students to Â鶹ӰÊÓ would sign the university's enrollment book to officially enroll in the university and agree to the cost of tuition. To make the event more ceremonial, students also would ring the bell in Old College Hall and shake hands with the university's president.
Over the decades, they tradition fell out of practice, returning sporadically for brief periods. But the Old College Hall bell remained an important symbol for the university, ringing to mark special occasions from athletic contests to presidential investitures.
In 1996, Sign, Shake & Ring emerged as an updated version of the early enrollment tradition. Incoming underÂ鶹ӰÊÓ students sign their name in the Book of Enrollment (not as a contract, but as a symbol of their welcome to the community), shake hands with the university president, and take their turn ringing the Old College Hall bell.
In 2005, a new chapter was added, book-ending the enrollment tradition with a closing Sign, Shake & Ring tradition. On the eve of graduation (or in the days leading up to graduation), undergrads now "sign out" of the enrollment book, again shaking hands with the president and ringing the Old College Hall bell.
Over the years, a variety of Pacific's Â鶹ӰÊÓ programs have also picked up the tradition, offering Â鶹ӰÊÓ and professional students their own opportunity to participate in Sign, Shake & Ring as they start or end their time at Â鶹ӰÊÓ.
In more recent years, recognizing that alumni are forever part of the Boxer family, Pacific has embarked on one more stage of the tradition. The Â鶹ӰÊÓ Alumni Association hosts a quarterly remembrance ceremony in memory of those Pacific family members who have passed. Each name is read and the Old College Hall bell tolls one more time to bid farewell and honor the contributions of alumni and friends.