Post by aztec619 on Jul 5, 2010 15:39:15 GMT -8
Just wondering if anyone knew about this tradition from back in the day. Maybe another tradition could start that would not effect any protected areas.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_State_University
"S mountain
"S" mountain was created by the Council of Twelve and initially supported by President Hardy. On February 27, 1931, he allowed 500 students to paint rocks, forming a 400-foot "S" on Cowles Mountain. The giant S was lit at night for the opening football game of a season (performed by the freshman to build school spirit) along with pep rallies, and was repainted throughout its history.[41][42] At the time, it was the largest collegiate symbol in the world.[43] During World War II, the S was camouflaged to prevent it becoming a reference point for enemy bombing aircraft.[44] It was returned to its normal state in April 1944.[45] In the 1970s students stopped painting it and brush obstructed the symbol. After a 1988 brush fire it was exposed, and students repainted it. In fall, 1997, a group of 100 volunteers climbed Cowles Mountain after dusk to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the school by using flashlights to once again outline the "S" on the side of the mountain. In 1990, a high school prank defaced the S to read as "91" in honor of their graduating class.[46]"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowles_Mountain
"San Diego State University
For many years Cowles Mountain was locally known as "S" Mountain. In 1931, 500 students from San Diego State University (SDSU) painted a 400-foot-tall (120 m) letter "S" on the side of the mountain, after which it took on its popular name.[3] In April 1942, during World War II, the local military ordered the S covered up for the sake of national security. After the war the painting tradition was resurrected. In the 1970s, the annual repainting tradition was discarded due to complaints from environmentalists but enjoyed a brief resurgence in the late 1980s.(see discussion page)
In 1991 the "S" was the basis of a prank by Seniors from nearby Patrick Henry High School. Overnight, the "S" was closed into a "9" and a crude "1" was added next to it. SDSU students eventually restored the "S" one last time.
The mountain, except for marked trails, is now a protected area, and the "S" has not been repainted for nearly two decades."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Cowles_Mountain#The_.22S.22_in_the_late_1980s
"The "S" in the late 1980s
As I recall, there was talk about repainting the "S" in the late 1980s but there was such an uproar from environmentalists that it was never actually done. Rsduhamel 03:12, 2 July 2006 (UTC) I grew up in the shadow of "S" Mountain in the 1970s and 80s, and I do not remember any attempt to restore the "S" in the late 80s due to environmentalist pressure. An elderly member of my church in the area remembers how San Diego State would send freshmen up the mountain in the late 1930s on the night of the homecoming game. The "S" at the time was visible from the upper decks of Aztec Bowl (now built over by Cox Arena). The freshmen would cover the "S" in road flares. At dusk, they would light the flares, forming a red flaming "S" for "State" on the black background of the moutain, matching the red and black colors of the college. The mountain was often referred to as "Black Mountain" at the time due to the black outline it formed in the sky at dusk, in the days before that area was built up.James shields (talk) 02:08, 17 March 2009 (UTC)"
For you all that didn't want to click on the links.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_State_University
"S mountain
"S" mountain was created by the Council of Twelve and initially supported by President Hardy. On February 27, 1931, he allowed 500 students to paint rocks, forming a 400-foot "S" on Cowles Mountain. The giant S was lit at night for the opening football game of a season (performed by the freshman to build school spirit) along with pep rallies, and was repainted throughout its history.[41][42] At the time, it was the largest collegiate symbol in the world.[43] During World War II, the S was camouflaged to prevent it becoming a reference point for enemy bombing aircraft.[44] It was returned to its normal state in April 1944.[45] In the 1970s students stopped painting it and brush obstructed the symbol. After a 1988 brush fire it was exposed, and students repainted it. In fall, 1997, a group of 100 volunteers climbed Cowles Mountain after dusk to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the school by using flashlights to once again outline the "S" on the side of the mountain. In 1990, a high school prank defaced the S to read as "91" in honor of their graduating class.[46]"
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowles_Mountain
"San Diego State University
For many years Cowles Mountain was locally known as "S" Mountain. In 1931, 500 students from San Diego State University (SDSU) painted a 400-foot-tall (120 m) letter "S" on the side of the mountain, after which it took on its popular name.[3] In April 1942, during World War II, the local military ordered the S covered up for the sake of national security. After the war the painting tradition was resurrected. In the 1970s, the annual repainting tradition was discarded due to complaints from environmentalists but enjoyed a brief resurgence in the late 1980s.(see discussion page)
In 1991 the "S" was the basis of a prank by Seniors from nearby Patrick Henry High School. Overnight, the "S" was closed into a "9" and a crude "1" was added next to it. SDSU students eventually restored the "S" one last time.
The mountain, except for marked trails, is now a protected area, and the "S" has not been repainted for nearly two decades."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Cowles_Mountain#The_.22S.22_in_the_late_1980s
"The "S" in the late 1980s
As I recall, there was talk about repainting the "S" in the late 1980s but there was such an uproar from environmentalists that it was never actually done. Rsduhamel 03:12, 2 July 2006 (UTC) I grew up in the shadow of "S" Mountain in the 1970s and 80s, and I do not remember any attempt to restore the "S" in the late 80s due to environmentalist pressure. An elderly member of my church in the area remembers how San Diego State would send freshmen up the mountain in the late 1930s on the night of the homecoming game. The "S" at the time was visible from the upper decks of Aztec Bowl (now built over by Cox Arena). The freshmen would cover the "S" in road flares. At dusk, they would light the flares, forming a red flaming "S" for "State" on the black background of the moutain, matching the red and black colors of the college. The mountain was often referred to as "Black Mountain" at the time due to the black outline it formed in the sky at dusk, in the days before that area was built up.James shields (talk) 02:08, 17 March 2009 (UTC)"
For you all that didn't want to click on the links.
