Barnard Greek Games

The Barnard Greek Games were a tradition at Barnard College pitting the freshman and sophomore classes against one another in a series of competitions. They began in 1903 when the Class of 1905 challenged the Class of 1906 to an informal athletic contest. In later years upperclass students would cheer on their juniors, "odds" cheering for "odds" and "evens" for "evens." Signature events included a chariot race, with chariots pulled by teams of 4 students, and a torch race. The torch race is captured in the "Spirit of the Greek Games" statue outside Barnard Hall that was given by the Class of 1905 as a gift on the 25th anniversary of the games in 1928. The games, a central part of Barnard campus life, were held annually until 1968, when upheaval on campus caused their cancellation, snuffing out this tradition along with such longstanding features of campus life as the Varsity Show.

After a 22 year absence, the Games were revived in 1989 as part of Barnard's Centennial celebrations. The games were revived again in 2000, and have been held sporadically since.

External links

• Greek Games: 1903-1969 - Barnard College Archives Subject Collection
• Class Conflict, Columbia Spectator, 16 April 2002
• Barnard recreates event no one cares about, Spectrum, 22 June 2010
• Barnard College - The First Fifty Years, by Alice Duer Miller (1939), pg. 91-94 (CLIO)
• Barnard College Archives Film Collection - Greek Games: Rehearsal and Performance (1944?) (Direct link)
• Barnard College Greek Games ca. 1927
• Barnard 1968 Photo Gallery
• Greek Games Return to Barnard, Barnard News, 6 April 2000
• The Spirit of the Greek Games, Barnard College Archives Blog, 15 November 2010
• To the gods of Hellas; lyrics of the Greek games at Barnard college by Helen Erskine (1930) (CLIO)
• BARNARD SOPHS WIN THE HELLENIC CONTEST; They Had Zeus with Them at the Start, and Couldn't Lose. STILL IT WAS PRETTY CLOSE Closer Than the Score, 36 to 25, Might Indicate -- There Were Feats Both Mental and Physical., New York Times, 24 March 1906
• AUTO UNIFORMITY IN STATE LAWS; Divergence of Opinion Throughout Country in Speed Regulations and Penalties. MODEL BILL IS DRAFTED Sentiment Toward Motorists Growing in Favor in the West -- New Acts This Year., New York Times, 23 March 1907
• OLYMPIC GAMES AT BARNRRD.; Students Compete in 'Greek Literary and Athletic Contests., New York Times, 28 March 1908
• SOCIAL NOTES.; GIRLS IN GREEK GAMES., New York Times, 19 March 1910
• ALL GREEKS AT BARNARD.; Sophomores Win Hellenic Contest In Dancing, Poetry, and Athletics., New York Times, 25 March 1911
• GREEK GAMES AT BARNARD.; Sophomores Vanquish the Freshmen in Dance and Athletic Contests., New York Times, 23 March 1912
• BARNARD STUDENTS HOLD GREEK GAMES; With Gymnasium Transformed Into Hellenic Temple, Sophomores Win Annual Contest., New York Times, 6 April 1913
• BARNARD CLASSES IN GREEK FESTIVAL; Freshmen Defeat Sophomores on Points in Dances, Singing and Athletic Events., New York Times, 5 April 1914
• BARNARD,'17, EXCELS IN GREEK GAMES; Sophomores Vanquish Freshmen, Though Both Implore Apollo's Aid. TORCH RACE TWICE LOST Youngsters Also Carry Off Chariot Honors in Columbia Gym -- Score 57 1-2 to 52 1-2., New York Times, 1 May 1915
• GIRLS AT BARNARD HOLD GREEK GAMES; Sophomores Defeat the Freshmen in Annual Contest by a Score of 67 to 39. SCENE AN ANCIENT TEMPLE Columbia Gymnasium Filled with Enthusiastic Friends of the Competing Classes., New York Times, 9 April 1916
• PREPARE FOR GREEK GAMES.; Barnard College Girls Will Hold Contests on April 14., New York Times, 4 March 1917
• BARNARD SOPHS WIN GRECIAN CONTESTS; Take Laurels From Freshmen in Chariot, Hurdle and Torch Races in College Gym. POINTS STAND 52 TO 48 Annual Games, Dedicated to God of the Sea, Are Staged Entirely by Girls., New York Times, 10 April 1921
• CAMPUS LIFE: Barnard; Tradition Revived As Greek Games Stage a Return, New York Times, 12 March 1989
• Video of the Greek Games in the 1920s