Columbia University Traditions - 40s On 40

40s On 40

With forty days remaining until graduation, seniors drink 40oz malt liquor on the steps of Low Library to celebrate their impending graduation. Regarded as a rite of passage, the event usually leaves debris on the steps and gives passing tour groups a unique impression of the school as evidenced here. In 2007, the administration attempted to make the tradition a carefully regulated event, perhaps due to incidents and complaints from previous years.

Although it has been suggested that the administration chose to target a particularly festive student tradition, one might argue that regulations on 40s on 40 are in keeping with the university's increasingly stringent anti-alcohol policy. 2005, which saw a traditional 40s on 40, already ushered in the first year of mandatory online alcohol safety class for incoming freshmen (alcohol.edu).

Whatever the cause, by 2008 the tradition appears to have changed entirely. At 12:00 pm only those seniors whose names were on a list (in prior years many underclassmen had joined, when possible, in wishing the seniors farewell) were allowed into a cordoned section of the steps. Students were given wristbands which were market to limit intake of light beer to one 12oz cup per hour in keeping with the oft-bemoaned regulations on alcohol events. The university catering service provided bud lite and sandwiches (vegetarian option included).

At 12:05 hundreds of students were observed waiting in lines to purchase tee shirts commemorating the event.