By: Fitzroy Harris Photo by: Fitzroy Harris
Milligan College likes to offer students plenty of ways to participate in campus events. One such event is an annual week of activities called “TWIRP” week.
TWIRP stands for “the woman is required to pay” and has been the theme since approximately 1949 when it was first introduced at Milligan by Eddie Wood, freshmen president, at the time.
Professor Jack Knowles remembered back to what TWIRP week was like when he was a student at Milligan.
“Students would go to an athletic event then go out for pizza… find a place off campus to dance or go to a Stateline Drive-in movie in Elizabethton,” Knowles said.
The established TWIRP week tradition was inspired by the popular American comic strip “Freckles and His Friends,” where rules of etiquette take on a reverse form during the week of activities.
In the comic strip, TWIRP week shows a woman asking a man for a date. She is then supposed to open doors, carry his books, provide transportation and pay any bills incurred. Ladies who violated the rules were tried before the Kangaroo court and listened to disturbing music as punishment.
Bible Professor Lee Magness who attended Milligan from 1965-69 said, “it was more unusual back then…there were few on campus activities.”
President Bill Greer, who met his wife Edwina through TWIRP week, is glad the tradition has not faded.
“Going out on a TWIRP date doesn’t automatically mean you’ll end up getting married but you never know…we’re glad TWIRP week is still around mainly because it’s just a lot of fun,” said Greer.
Milligan didn’t have a director of campus activities when TWIRP week was introduced, so different classes of students planned events.
Today, the same basic principles apply but with different activities for students to get involved with.
Sophomore Bethany-Lynne Brunelle said “I think it gives girls the chance to ask guys out in fun ways.”
TWIRP week will continue to be a Milligan tradition.
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