This is really intended to talk about some traditions that are associated with something visual, and that I find interesting. An exhausitive look at the traditions of any 150 year old institution, well, that's a whole 'nother website. The building is the tea shop (a little cafe, basically), but in a lot of ways the picture is of the steps. They're purple because this was taken recently and the outgoing class color is purple. Each class has a color in a four year cycle, and when you come in as a freshwoman many things around campus are painted in your color. But the outgoing seniors paint it in their color as one of their last acts on campus, and the cycle continues. Of course, part of why this works is that people actually still graduate in four years from Mills. It's not like at a big school where you can't even get your classes anymore. Even at a UC many people take five years to graduate simply because they can't get the classes they need for their major. Go back to the top of the Mills College section. See the rest of Eljay.org - Travel Photos and Trip Reports Copyright © 2001 - 2005 Doug Wade including all photographs except where otherwise noted.