“‘Mid the pines, in columns growing.” Voices of faculty join the students in a centuries-old chorale in these words as academic regalia glows under the stained glass windows of Harbison Chapel. It is at the Opening Convocation ceremony, the first chapel service of the year, that attendees stand together to sing a common tune in praise of this beloved institution . This soundtrack repeats itself annually, at the Opening Convocation service and other select times throughout the year for pompous events like the Baccalaureate ceremony. Alma Mater, literally translated as “nourishing mother,” refers to the unifying school song that represents a rich history of tradition and network of alumni, students, and faculty alike – all centered around Grove City College.
The Alma Mater was composed in 1910 by Hermann Poelmann, the director of the Grove City Music Conservatory, marking the beginning of the modern Grove City College Music Department. Written as part of the musical collection, “Songs of Grove City College,” the toon quickly came to represent the college itself.
Songs have always been a part of life at the collegiate level. Institutions of higher learning were shaped by songs teaching students to celebrate their school and campus organizations through oral traditionOral tradition, however, has become less frequent in an age that favors multimedia, global connection, and digital representation, lost amid the noise of a fast-paced, information-filled world.
Alumni experiences have spoken to the change in frequency of the singing of the Alma Mater. Rather than after every chapel service, it is only after convocation that the song is sung. Speaking to the unity displayed at sporting events, the football team gathers at the field goal to hear the band play the Alma Mater as a concluding tune; yet, the stands remain silent. Why do the vocal cords of the spectators remain at rest? It is because the emphasis on the Alma Mater– what it stands for and what it can do for the college –has been lost due to the infrequency of the song’s singing.
For a school that values tradition, Grove City College should consider the rich history that connects the present experience with the past through the Alma Mater. Rallying the community through similar aspirations, the Alma Mater can and should provoke unity through involving the students, spectators, professors, and administration alike.
Ultimately, gratitude for our place at Grove City College belongs to the Lord, our protector and provider. What better way to thank Him than to turn our voices towards his Kingdom, uniting in fellowship and cultivating solidarity through song.
The Alma Mater must be cherished. It must live on the lips of current students for the restoration of faithfulness towards the 150-year heritage of the college. In singing this song, much more is invoked than simply a melodic tune. Singing the Alma Mater is an intentional means of preserving the traditions of Grove City College as we join together with the community of over 30,000 alumni who once sang the same words. The Alma Mater is full of praising the halls we love and recognizing the blessing that Grove City has been and continues to be to faculty, students, and alumni.
