The history behind The Rock
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This year, it will be 143 years since the founding of the legendary Rock on Michigan State University’s beautiful campus. Originally given to the university as a gift from the graduating class of 1873[1], it has become a vibrant sight year-round, especially during the bleak winter months against the snow (or during this winter in particular, the dead grass). It has been in the past a billboard to inform and entertain, as well as spark support for the many issues plaguing the world. The Rock changes its outfits almost daily, sometimes even more than once a day, if the artists simply forget to guard their masterpiece.
For those new to campus, the Rock is exactly what it sounds like. It is a large rock by the Auditorium along Farm Lane Rd that through the years has been painted with various messages and themes in order to gain the attention and sometimes support of students. It is often painted at night, and guarded until the morning to keep other groups from painting over the artwork. The Rock can be painted by any student at the university with whatever topic the student believes is beneficial for the community to see, both political or otherwise. A few notable recent designs include it being painted with the words “MSU Stands With Mizzou” in support of the students of University of Missouri, “MSU Loves Princess Lacey” in honor of Lacey Holsworth[2], who passed away due to terminal cancer and who became an inspiration for the Michigan State basketball team, and “Active Minds” as part of the national “Send Silence Packing” campaign which is all about raising awareness of college student suicides[3].
On the Rock’s Origin
Here is what three students on campus had to say about the origin of the Rock.
Becky, a junior, said “ Well it’s a rock, so it probably fell from the sky.”
Justin, also a junior, had a more serious answer: “I believe that the Rock first started from someone passionate about a social issue using the Rock as a big canvas to spread their view.”
Lexi, a freshman, has a particularly unique theory as to how the Rock came into existence. She says “I secretly think that the Rock came to be when an egg-shaped object came down from the earth and fell in the spot where the Rock currently stands. To protect it students began to paint it in hopes that when the egg hatches, whatever is inside it will wreak havoc on U of M kids for years to come.”
Burning Question: Does the Rock unite or divide Spartans on campus?
Andy, a freshman, believes so. He said “It definitely unites. Everybody loves the rock.”
Becky also agrees. She said “Unites, I think it’s a fun event where clubs can feel close because they are participating in an event together.”
However, Lexi disagrees, but she brings up a great point. She said “I believe that the Rock in some ways divides the students on campus. While it is the main spot to host events students often have to fight over who gets to paint the Rock for the day.”
Justin believes it can both unify and divide. He said “I believe that the Rock can unify students as they sign their names, unify students as they work as a club or a group being passionate about something to push their image onto the Rock. But, the Rock divides students who stratify themselves in groups. Clubs must fight against each other to try and get to the Rock first, and then sit there all day to try and guard their work. Its an angry and frustrating fight to push their own ideal onto the Rock which only serves to divide.”
The Real Story
The tradition of the Rock began in 1873, when it was gifted to the university by the graduating class of that year, who decided to move it after the university’s decision to preserve it, as it was considered leftover glacial material[4]. Before its many paint jobs, the only decoration on the stone was the inscription of “Class ‘73”. Originally a pudding stone, which is a stone with contrasting colored pebbles within it, it was discovered in the “Delta” which is now the intersection of Grand River Ave. and Michigan Ave. The students spent the day digging up the stone themselves, and it was originally placed near the future location of Beaumont Tower1.
The land in close proximity to Beaumont Tower is sometimes called the “Sacred Space.”
During the 1950’s, the Rock became an engagement proposal site for many young couples. However, by the 1970’s, the Rock had become a painted billboard of sorts for students to voice their opinions or promote their clubs. Some of these opinions were insulting to faculty or alumni, so the university moved the Rock to the front of the Department of Public Safety building in order to discourage the vandalism. The location change did not last however, the Rock was moved back to its original location in order to silence student protest. The university had sandblasted the vandalism off several times, but they eventually allowed the paint jobs to stay, due to the expenses of the sandblasting1.
The Rock was moved to its current location on Farm Lane in September 1985, due to the fact that at its old location with the constant paint jobs, students were damaging trees and shrubs around the Rock. In order to protect the shrubs it was moved to the open area where it currently stands1.
The Tradition Today
Today, for some students their first exposure to the Rock is an exercise done during summer AOP, in which new students are invited to sign their names on the Rock in Sharpie often over friendly welcome messages. The Rock is not only a presentation of the present’s events, but a time capsule memorializing the important events of the past and student’s names. It is a influential canvas that brought movement and change in the past, and provides inspiration for the future.
#SpartansAllIn
Sources
Russell, Jennie. 2014. Exhibit-The Rock. October -. Accessed January 24, 2016. http://onthebanks.msu.edu/Exhibit/1-6-1D/the-rock-at-msu/.
Palmer, Ken. 2015. “‘Princess Lacey’ honored at MSU campus rock.” WZZM13. April 8. Accessed January 24, 2016. http://www.wzzm13.com/story/news/2015/04/07/princess-lacey-tribute-planned-tonight-at-msu/25424633/.
Wellness, Graduate Student Life and. 2011. “Send Silence Packing at MSU.” Chittenden Commons at the Graduate School. April 5. Accessed January 25, 2016. http://commons.grd.msu.edu/index.php/2011/04/send-silence-packing-at-msu/.
‘Still standing 150 years later: A History of “The Rock” at MSU'” MSU Archives.wordpress. May 4. Accessed January 22, 2016. https://msuarchives.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/still-standing-150-years-later-a-history-of-the-rock-at-msu/.