Bags and Flags: The history of CWRU “rush”

In The Daily’s first trivia question, we asked what two other kinds of “rush”—beyond Greek Life—used to be traditions on Case Western Reserve University’s campus. The answer, which many CWRU-history-savvy individuals got correct, was flag rush and bag rush.

In the annual flag rush, held early in the school year, Adelbert College freshmen faced off against sophomores. “A flag was attached to a greased flag pole placed in the athletic field, and the sophomores defended it. The freshmen would organize behind a nearby building, attack the pole and attempt to carry away the flag by the appointed hour,” according to the Little Blue Book.

In the Bag Rush, held late in the school year, the same students would compete to grab large canvas bags from the other side.

Stay tuned to The Daily to test your Case Western Reserve University knowledge.