Hamilton, N.Y. – Every Friday the 13th is a lucky day for Colgate University. But did you ever wonder
just why Colgate Day is so special?
Well, in 1817, 13 men — six clergy and seven laymen — met in the frontier settlement of Hamilton with
13 dollars, 13 prayers, and 13 articles. During that meeting, the men founded the Baptist Education
Society of the State of New York, the cornerstone for what would become known as Colgate University.
That’s not our only reason to celebrate the number 13. The university’s address is 13 Oak Drive. Our zip
code is 13346. The first two numbers, standing alone, are the number 13, and the sum of the remaining
three totals 13.
Even the university’s motto has a connection with 13. There are — no surprise here — 13 letters in “Deo
ac Veritati,” a Latin phrase meaning “For God and For Truth.”
So this superstitious number has a very special meaning on our campus. And in honor of this tradition,
every Friday the 13th is declared “Colgate Day.” We invite you to join us on October 13, 2017 as we
celebrate the history of our great university. Enjoy special savings and deals all day long at the Colgate
Bookstore!
The entire Colgate Bookstore will be 13% off (some exclusions apply). For more information, visit
http://www.colgatebookstore.com or call 315-228- 7480.
