Whoever has, at some time during their period of study, been in contact with science students has probably seen them wearing typical overalls. That they are used extensively and have many traditions surrounding them is no secret – but why?
At Lund University, only science students tend to be seen in colorful overalls. They are worn during hazing rituals, at dinners and in other contexts that may involve frequent boozing and making all the clothing dirty.
Anton Hyllstam is president of Campus Helsingborg’s science section, and has himself worn his blue overall on many occasions. According to him, the tradition probably began in the 1970s at the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm.
“They wanted to do something new, so they copied the road-work uniforms to be worn by the freshmen,” he says.
Different colors depending on the topic
From there, the idea of the overalls have spread across both Swedish and Finnish universities. In Lund, the traditions surrounding the overalls are many.
“The overalls have different colors depending on what you study, each section usually has a unique color,” says Anton Hyllstam.
The overalls should then be covered with all kinds of stickers that you put on yourself. They can symbolize everything from participating at a specific party to being a freshman manager.
Change body fluids and get a collar
The overalls are also modified for different reasons. There is, for example, a notorious tradition, not always followed, of students changing collar with science students with whom they have exchanged body fluids.
“After that you are never allowed to wash your overall. OK, well, you are allowed to swim in it,” says Anton Hyllstam.
In addition, there is a reason that everybody wears the garment:
“Everyone feels more equal, you feel more like belonging to a gang.”
What you should and should not do with the suit seems to have been largely up to each individual or section in question, but one thing is certain: The science students seem to like their overalls.
Text: Tove Nordén
Translation: Lars Jansson
