Lantern Night

Each year, the Women’s Athletic Association and the Women’s League sponsored Lantern Night on Palmer Field, regarded by many students as one of the most memorable experiences in their college career. The night marked the ascension of each class to the one above, symbolized by the passing of lanterns. Invitations to Lantern Night were extended to the Ann Arbor community, becoming a widely publicized and celebrated event. The event involved performances from a variety of student organizations. Until 1940 every sorority sang in the program; this practice was later changed in order to shorten the time of the ceremony. Subsequently, sororities had to audition to be included in the program’s musical portion. Awards were also given at Lantern Night; women students acquiring 1,000 merit points in an academic year received sweaters from the Women’s Athletic Association.

"President's Report," Box 2, Women’s League University of Michigan Records, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan.