Serenading

 

For almost as long as the Eppie fraternity has been a group, that group has been serenading the Gustavus campus. Even before they first serenaded in public, the group had been singing at fraternity banquets and meetings. It was on the evening of October 15, 1941, however, that the traditional form of this Eppie function took place. It was the Homecoming ceremonies of 1941, and as George Hulstrand, Secretary at the time wrote:

 

At ten-thirty on the perfectly clear night of October 15, the Eppies gathered underneath the window of Esther Marie Johnson, the Homecoming Queen, and established another Eppie tradition by serenading her majesty.

 

That first Eppie serenade included only four songs including this one written by a member, Ken Johnson, especially for the occasion:

God bless our gracious queen,

May she forever reign

on GAC.

May regal splendor be,

yours for eternity.

We sing in praise of thee,

our gracious queen.

 

When George Hulstrand claimed that another Eppie tradition was created, he could not possibly have guessed at how right he was. Serenading became a regular feature for the Eppies after that; and any occasion would warrant a slow stroll down the walks of Gustavus and various stops to sing their songs.

During the 1950s, with a large number of chorus members among the group, the Eppies were widely known as the Serenaders of Gustavus. Not all of them were allowed to sing, however. As one member of the time put it: "...Many of us were asked to mouth the words." This was to keep the illusion, that everyone in the Eppies was an excellent singer, alive.

 

In the 1960s serenading took on a different form. As the 60s progressed, fewer and fewer serenades were performed until, in the late 60s, only two dates were used. One was the traditional Homecoming Serenade with the other being given in the spring during initiation. This continued well into the 1970s and was discontinued only in 1979 when new changes in the greek system at Gustavus were undergoing. At this time, serenades were restricted to initiation only, this being in the spring. With the end of homecoming royalty, the traditional aspect of the fall serenade had ended. Today, even though only once a year, the Eppie serenade is much the same as it was some 45 years ago. Songs sung in the 50s and 60s are the same songs sung today, and such Eppie favorites as the "Stein Song" and "The Girl of My Dreams" date back to the very origins of the serenade tradition.