UMPD may be cracking down on a finals tradition

Testudo accessorized with googly eyes, handkerchief and party hat (Kayla Nazaire/The Black Explosion)

Recent police presence at the Testudo statue on McKeldin Mall may be a sign the university's finals tradition has gone too far.

Every semester, McKeldin Library's bronze Diamondback terrapin statue becomes an altar. students offer anything they can, from empty liquor bottles to a washing machine, hoping Testudo will bring them good luck on their final exams.

Some students are skeptical of the ritual, but welcome the tradition nonetheless.

“I definitely don’t think it’s real. But it’s a fun way to let off steam and distract yourself during finals,” said Sam Feber, a senior finance major. 

According to the university’s website, the tradition dates back to the early 1990s. In recent years, offerings have grown larger in scale. 

This year's items included a bench, a box spring, a giraffe statue, a dishwasher, and a lit Subway restaurant sign. 

There is no indication of where the sign came from or if it was stolen. But the day after it appeared among the offerings, the University of Maryland Police Department stationed a vehicle in front of the statue at night.

Neither the university nor UMPD made a public comment addressing the change, but students seem to have gotten the message. Since UMPD stationed the patrol there, students haven’t left any large offerings. 

Patrick Sullivan, a sophomore computer science major, was concerned that the big offerings make it harder for university staff to clear off the statue. 

“I do feel bad for the workers who kind of aren’t really taking finals but they gotta clean up something that everyone likes to do,” said Sullivan.

Still, police presence did not stop students from leaving gingerbread houses, K-pop idol “stan” photos, jeans, and other small trinkets.

One anonymous student left Testudo a heartfelt letter, thanking him for bringing them luck on their exams in the past.  This time, they did not ask for luck.

“I know I can do this. I’ve studied. I’ve gotten good sleep. I’m eating healthy (relatively). I just need someone to say, ‘You’ve got this champ’ or ‘I believe in you,’” they wrote. 

Jack Parry, a senior journalism major, left his ADHD medicine to symbolize mental fortitude. 

He said for students, the symbolism of leaving an offering makes the tradition special, regardless of the exam results.

“Sometimes you just want to feel like there’s something out there that’s got your back,” said Parry.