History and Traditions
Heidelberg Colors
Heidelberg University is represented by the colors of orange, black and red. In the early days there were no official colors, but peacock blue and old gold appeared on the official diplomas in the 1880s. The faculty voted to change the colors to black, orange and red, the reformation colors. On October 18, 1893, the executive committee of Heidelberg made the action official.
Rev. Rufus W. Miller, D.D. suggested the colors of orange, black and red around the time of the organization of the Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip, about 1888 when the German and Dutch were reformed together in the organization. Miller sought colors that would be good symbols of both churches and took the black and red from the German flag for the German reformed and the orange for the Dutch reformed. Five years later Heidelberg adopted them as its colors.
The Student Prince of Heidelberg
As the story is told, the name was coined in 1926 by Edwin R. Butcher, Heidelberg’s alumni director and publicity agent. Butcher, it is said, was walking through downtown Tiffin when he noticed a theatre billboard promoting the film “The Student Prince of Heidelberg.”
Sigmund Romberg’s popular operetta, “The Student Prince” tells the story of a young German prince whose private tutor, a graduate of the University of Heidelberg, went to the king to request permission to place the isolated prince in the university where he could mingle with other students. The king agreed. At first, the sheltered prince hated university life with its common fraternity boys and dormitory life, even though he had private quarters. But with the encouragement of his tutor, the prince soon came to enjoy the academic experience. He even joined a fraternity and fell in love with a girl from Heidelberg.
Student Prince evokes images of that majestic castle overlooking the city of Heidelberg and the Neckar River and of the academic excellence, prestige and romantic charm of Germany’s oldest university. Heidelberg has long had close ties with its German counterpart, offering the highly acclaimed American Junior Year at Heidelberg University for more than 50 years.
In the next issue of the Heidelberg Bulletin Butcher tagged the football team the Student Princes, and the Student Princes they remained. Sports writers quickly picked up Butcher’s cue, and The Student Princes began to stick, eventually replacing The Cardinals as the official Heidelberg nickname.
Heidelberg Sweet Alma Home
Music by Professor F.A. Power
Words by J.E. Hartman ’96
Sweet Alma Home!
Where’er we be,
Where’er we roam,
On land or sea,
Our swift-winged memory
In yearnings (yearnings) backward flies to thee.
Sing Alma Mater, Heidelberg!
Sing till the vaulted heavens ring!
Sing till the gales on swiftest wing
Bear the song away!
Sing till returning echoes bring
Back again the lay!
(Sing till the echoes bring back the lay)
Sing Heidelberg!
We love thy walls,
Thy ancient name!
We seek thy halls
And greet thy fame!
And brightly gleams the flame
That love (that love) enkindles to thy name!
Sing Alma Mater, Heidelberg!
Sing till the vaulted heavens ring!
Sing till the gales on swiftest wing
Bear the song away!
Sing till returning echoes bring
Back again the lay!
(Sing till the echoes bring back the lay)
Sing Heidelberg!
Still hear the song
We raise to thee;
’Twill not be long
We’ll part from thee.
But tho’ thy courts we leave
To thee (to thee) in love we ever cleave
Sing Alma Mater, Heidelberg!
Sing till the vaulted heavens ring!
Sing till the gales on swiftest wing
Heidelberg Victory March
Music by Myron B. Barnes ’28
Words by Catherine Morneweck ’31
Fight on, Oh Heidelberg, stalwart and true,
There on the gridiron our College defend.
Bear thru the conquest her colors so bright,
See how they float on high!
Keep them forever untouched by disgrace,
Bear on her banners caressed by the sun,
Cherish them ever upon battle fields,
Bear them to Victory -
Undimmed by passing of the years
Heidelberg march on!
See our Student Princes
Champion the cause of right!
Red and orange and black
High above the strife!
Fight on Heidelberg,
And vict’ry shall be thine!