History of the "O"

This history is based upon oral accounts from several long-time faculty, administrators and staff of Oregon Tech as well as alumni and students.

Hillside “O”s are associated with both the old and the new campuses of Oregon Institute of Technology (Oregon Tech). The old campus was located on the site of a former WWII Marine Corps recuperation facility in Klamath Falls. The new or present campus of Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls was dedicated in 1964. The “O” on the northerly hillside above the present campus (later modified to an “O” with a “T” inside) was built by students around the time of the campus construction in 1964-1966. A long time faculty member remembers the “O” from when he started working at the present campus in mid-1966. The MIler on October 14, 1966, reported "On Saturday [October 8] approximately 125 freshmen got together, climbed the hill, and painted the "O".

The elevation of the campus is over 4200 feet (about 1.28 km), and the "O" is a few hundred feet higher up a steep grade. The original “O” above the present campus was constructed from whitewashed rocks. Whitewashing the rocks each year was traditionally a freshmen job. From its creation, construction and maintenance of the “O” was a student project, usually coordinated by a fraternity. Iota Phi Theta maintained the “O” in the 1970s. Phi Delta Theta took over maintenance responsibilities in 1981 and modified the symbol to the current "O" with a "T" inside using whitewashed railroad ties and gravel. It continues the maintenance today. Sometimes the "T" will disappear. Is a "T" there today?

 

The “O” played an important part in Homecoming football celebrations until the early nineties when the football program ended. Students would illuminate the “O” by surrounding it with lights. In early years the students used lanterns or flares. After an windy Homecoming evening when a flare toppled over and set the hillside ablaze, plans were usually made with the school’s Diesel Technology program for generators to provide electric lights.

As a prank students would occasionally rearrange the “O” into other shapes. The most memorable re-arrangement occurred in the spring of 1976 when one night the “O” became the Playboy bunny symbol. The bunny was the last straw for President Winston Purvine. He ordered the whitewashed rocks scattered down the hillside.  Sometime later an agreement was reached, and the students rebuilt the “O”.

During the jogging craze of the 1970s members of the campus community used the “O” as a workout goal. The elevation of the campus is over 4200 feet and the “O” is a few hundred feet higher up a steep grade. The Oregon Tech football team also incorporated the “O” into its workouts.

 

Originally written by an archivist in 2006. Updated by University Archives staff in 2002, using student newspapers as a resource.

 

Resources on Oregon Tech’s history

Oregon Institute of Technology, 1947-1997, The First Fifty Years, vol. 11 of the Journal of the Shaw Historical Library, (1997)

OVS, OTI, Oregon Tech: OREGON TECH’S FIRST 30 YEARS, 1946 – 1976 by Winston D. Purvine

The Owler, OIT’s yearbook from 1950 to 1983. Copies are available for use at through the University Archives and in the Shaw Historical Library.