The things (and places) every student knows

1. The ‘Exponent’

Purdue’s student newspaper was founded in 1889 and operated as a student organization until 1969. The Board of Trustees fired student editor William R. Smoot (LA’69) in 1968 after critical and controversial columns castigating President Fred Hovde (HDR E’75) appeared in the paper. The Exponent then established an independent organization, Purdue Student Publishing Foundation, to act as the publisher and reinstated Smoot as editor. Exponent alumni have won six Pulitzer Prizes, four Emmys, and one Oscar — without the benefit of a journalism school.

2. Von’s Book Shop

While State Street changes around it, Von’s Books has found a way to adapt to the changing times and tastes of Purdue students. John Von Erdmannsdorff founded the store in 1968. Pursuing a master’s degree at the time, von Erdmannsdorff got tired of ordering the books he wanted and decided to open his own store. Today, the shop is an eclectic mix of books, gifts, beads, music, rocks, and crystals.

3. University Book Store

University Book Store has a special place on Purdue’s campus. It’s more than where students pick up their books at the beginning of the semester; University Book Store helped bring one of Purdue’s most iconic personalities to life: Purdue Pete. In an effort to create a more distinctive look for its products, the bookstore hired Art Evans to design a distinctive logo. Eventually, Pete made his way from the bookstore to the pages of the Debris yearbook and onto the field in 1956 when Larry Brumbaugh walked out, wearing a papier-mâchéd head.

4. Stacks

In the decades before the World Wide Web, students needing to cite books and academic journals in their papers spent hours prowling the periodicals stacks in the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Education Library (HSSE). Though the multi-level labyrinthian stacks aren’t as frequently used these days, they still provide a quiet place to study away from the throngs.

5. John Purdue’s Grave

John Purdue died at age 73 of an apparent stroke on September 12, 1876, the first day of classes of the University’s third academic year. He was buried, as he requested, on campus. An unmarked stone was placed at the head of his grave just east of the yet unfinished University Hall. Purdue never married; Purdue University was his legacy. One of the more macabre urban legends surrounding the Purdue rivalry with IU involves Indiana students stealing Purdue’s body from his grave, but there’s no substance to this gruesome tale. 

6. Neon Cactus/Piano Bar

Bruce Barker (HHS’94) reigns over the keys in the Rusty Bucket, the piano bar inside the Neon Cactus nightclub. Occupancy is strictly monitored, so some Thursdays, patrons wait in line a long time. With an act that is part singing, part comedy, and part karaoke, Barker’s been performing at the Cactus for 24 years. He’ll often coax special guests (or birthday celebrants) into standing on a stool (not recommended if you’ve consumed more than one Cactus cup) while the packed room serenades them with one of Barker’s original songs (lyrics not fit for print). 

7. Baltimore Zoo

Both the exact origin of the Baltimore Zoo cocktail and the story behind its name are unknown. It’s rumored that a bartender at Harry’s created it circa 1990. Imagine a fruitier version of a Long Island iced tea with a splash of beer, although even the recipe of the potent concoction is disputed. One thing’s certain — consume more than one of these, and you may end up behind bars. 

8. Callout Pizza

With hundreds of student organizations appealing to myriad interests, the fall campus calendar is littered with callouts. The most popular incentive to attract students to the informational meeting? Callout pizza. Grab a slice, and enjoy free dinner as you learn about ways to get involved at Purdue.

9. Pappy’s Sweet Shop

A Purdue tradition, this sweet shop has been a popular student hangout since 1927. Back when it opened, it was known simply as The Sweet Shop, a name that stuck until 2001. At that point, it became Pappy’s Sweet Shop in honor of Pappy, the original burger flipper and soda jerk.