Every Friday the 13th is a lucky day for Colgate University. But did you ever wonder just why Colgate Day is so special?
Well, in 1817, 13 men — six clergy and seven laymen — met in the frontier settlement of Hamilton with 13 dollars, 13 prayers, and 13 articles. During that meeting, the men founded the Baptist Education Society of the State of New York, the cornerstone for what would become known as Colgate University.
That’s not our only reason to celebrate the number 13. The university’s address is 13 Oak Drive. Our zip code is 13346. The first two numbers, standing alone, are the number 13, and the sum of the remaining three totals 13.
Even the university’s motto has a connection with 13. There are — no surprise here — 13 letters in “Deo ac Veritati,” a Latin phrase meaning “For God and For Truth.”
So we say, “Wear thirteen proudly. Live it out: Learn new things, engage with new persons, climb new hills.” And in honor of this tradition, every Friday the 13th is declared “Colgate Day.” We invite you to join us on January 13, 2017 as we celebrate the history of our great university. The entire Colgate Bookstore will be on sale (usual exclusions apply) with special savings and deals all day long!