Bitner in Businessweek

Ok, a bit misleading, but hear me out.

Darden is in Businessweek for one of the more wacky business school traditions around the country. You can read more about it here.

During our first year we are divided into five sections (roughly 60 per section) and Section B (my section) clearly has the most tradition of the five. We have a mascot. The mascot is Big Bird. The little stuffed Big Bird is held in high regard within Section B (terribly corny, but whatev) and other sections do anything they can to steal the bird.

Each Friday a student is nominated to be the caretaker of the bird. Nominations are given for stupid comments. Sounds harsh, but they are typically funny.

Like one girl asked about a 'negative opportunity cost'. That deserves the bird. (She came from a nonprofit background so we cut her some slack.)

One guy asked if it was ok if he downloaded every annual financial report of the Fortune 500 in advance of the open book, open note test (because the stipulation is that the info has to be on your computer or in your hands, not live internet searches). Definitely bird worthy.

This week a girl sent around a link to an online macroeconomic learning tool, but it was the THIRD time in two weeks that the section received the email. Bird.

You get the idea.

Anyway, the bird is featured in Businessweek. Corny or not, it makes us proud.

Any wacky traditions in your graduate program?