History of the Shoe Tree

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the shoe tree? So did Bonnie McCubbin, who investigate the origins of the tree as a part of her SMP. You can read her article here or read my summary of her article below.

The Shoe Tree was first recognized in a 1989 article of the point news (meaning I am about as old as the Shoe Tree), referring to the tree as student art. Many opposed the tree, citing that it was tacky and may hurt the tree (definitely true) while others were pro-tree. It was the meatless mondays of yesteryear.

By 1992 new Point News writers had already forgotten about the origins of the tree. Literally 4 years after the Shoe Tree began people had already forgotten its origins. Oral tradition is dead.

During the 90s the tree represented a student art installation piece, but by 1997 the tree was being used for memorable firsts, like first sexual encounter on campus or for graduation. But by 2001 the Shoe Tree had fallen out of favor and few students were throwing shoes in it.

Today of course it is generally seen as a place to throw your shoes after having sex for the first time on campus, and one of the first and last holes on the frisbee golf course.

What does the future hold for the Shoe Tree? It's looking a looked ragged, from all the shoes probably. Is the Shoe Tree something that makes St. Mary's 'unique' or is it tacky? Will it survive the campus rebranding?

Planning on spending Alumni Weekend investigating this piece of SMCM lore. Ask any 45-50 year olds you see~

Gum Tree

I was browsing the twitterverse the other day (@SMCMLOL) and noticed some rumblings about a 'gum tree'  I wasn't really sure what a gum tree was so I did some INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM on the subject and some GONZO JOURNALISM via taking photos of this elusive tree.

I scoured my sources as to where I could find this tree.  After tweeting a few of my followers they left me with one clue:  the path to the Campus Center.  I slowly made my way towards the pond, it was a cold day.  Suddenly I looked to my left, and there it was.

A colorful tree, with fucking gum on it.  Why the hell is there a tree with gum on it?  This is the weirdest thing I have ever heard of.  But apparently it's thing in Philadelphia, and now it's a thing here via cultural appropriation.  The Philly Gum Tree was a tree on South Street in Philly that had gum on it.  Then in 2008 it got cut down for some reason.  I think that pretty much sums it up.

Oh man look at all that gum!  So, I am judging this attempt at a tradition, but I bet that when people started throwing shoes up in the Shoe Tree in the year (whenever that happened) people probably thought it was dumb.  And to be honest I still think this is dumb because it is littering and I don't like littering, but whatever.  But it's kinda cool and different, and I guess I can't fault someone for trying something new.

Also I don't like gum and literally don't understand the appeal of gum.  Why not just eat food.

Shoeless in the Great Room

So, as yall may know the Great Room does not allow bros to come in and eat some delicious chicken patties (which will be available on Friday for lunch yall, someone please swipe me in, will make it worth your while *wink* via bloggin about u) without some "shoes".  A lot of dudes around these parts don't like to wear shoes for a variety of reasons such as

• Masochism
• Like to get glass in their feetsies
• Want to look cool
• Are hippies
• Barefoot running fad
• Poor
• Had sex on campus and threw their only pair in the shoe tree

So anyway, the Great Room as I recall does not allow bros to come in barefoot because it violates Health Code.  I decided to do some INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM and to figure out the validity of this claim and found this wee little site called barefooters.org which had the following letter from the MD health department http://www.barefooters.org/health-dept/MD2009.pdf (click the link for the full letter, see excerpt below).

So according to this letter there is no Health Department requirement that people wear shoes when in a food place.  THE PLOT THICKENS.

So I emailed David Sansotta about this, still waiting for a reply though.  Just tryna stir up trouble and not wear shoes in the Great Room yall.   Gonna ride this barefoot train till it crashes
.

PANIC: Shoe Tree Chopped Down

According to a very reliable news source (Yahoo news lol) a shoe tree in Nevada, the largest shoe tree ever, was destroyed by VANDALS.  Here on campus we have had some issues with vandals (via Joe Ireland) and we also have our own beloved shoe tree.

BUT WHAT IF SOMEONE WERE TO CHOP DOWN OUR SHOE TREE?  PANIC!

I think it is probably safe though because no one on campus is allowed to have a knife greater than three inches, and generally people chop down trees with axes or chainsaws, which are illegal.  So I think it is safe.

Readers, have yall thrown shoes in the tree?  I feel like it's something that a lot of people may neglect to do because once you throw your shoes up there you don't have them anymore.  I had to get a pair of shoes for the dance show a few semester ago, so I threw those up when I was done with the dance show (they were used shoes and I spraypainted them black).

Shoe Tree Branch Fell

According to the facebooks, a branch from the shoe tree fell off.  Kinda depressing.  Hope it wasn't a branch with my shoes (kinda thought maybe this is TMI, but on other hand feel like a majority of people are in this same situation, so probably not that weird to write this maybe).

Apparently someone was throwing the fallen shoes onto another branch, which is kind/awesome.