They have a squirrel. We should have an acorn.

L to R: Tammi Kreis ('14), Elaina Gillin ('14), Ashlyn Orlosky ('14) and Elizabeth Foster ('14)

That was the thinking behind the creation of a large purple flag with a huge acorn on the front crafted by freshmen Tammi Kreis, Ashlynn Orlosky, Elaina Gillin and Elizabeth Foster.

For years the Oakwood-Slater freshmen men have proudly displayed a yellow flag with a squirrel in the entrance way of their residence hall. It’s also been stolen a few times, but somehow, one way or another, it’s always been returned.

On Oct. 2, Orlosky was teaching Kreis, Gillin and Foster  a dance to a song about waving flags. That’s when the idea sparked to make their own flag.

“Oh my goodness, we should make a Shupe flag,” said Orlosky.

Despite the fact that it was midnight, the four Shupe residents hopped in the car and headed to Walmart to buy materials. Then it was back to Shupe to iron on a large brown acorn with a  heart in the center onto the large purple flag.

“The heart was [Foster’s] idea. It adds a good amount of girliness,” says Kreis with a big giggle.

I first learned about the flag from Kreis’ blog, which goes into much more detail about how the flag came into existence.

On October 31st the four girls debuted their flag at the annual Powder Puff game. (A huge tournament where it’s female class against female class. FYI – This year the junior class girls won.)

“That’s when we started waving our flag,” says Orlosky.

Since the big debut, the flag has been folded up in Gillin’s room, but Kreis says she’s going to take it home over Thanksgiving break and sew the edges. When break is over, the women plan to hang up the flag in the lobby of Shupe. Kreis says they plan to “boobytrap” the flag.

“We’re aware that it [stealing] might happen,” says Gillin.

They’re also aware that this flag will probably spark some wars with the Oakwood-Slater men, but that’s a chance the girls are willing to take. In fact, they say they might start the war. It’s just a matter of when.

Anybody have memories that involve the Oakwood-Slater flag? Feel free to share.