Handshake returns to Union College
On Sunday evening, Aug. 20, a handshake happened. In fact, everyone shook everyone’s hands, and then they ate pizza with those hands. Why? It’s the annual Handshake. This is an event Union holds every fall to kick off the school year and set a precedent of relationship and warm greetings that Union is well-known for. This year was the first in four years that Handshake has been held. In fall 2019, the event was canceled for a lack of interest. Then in March 2020, when COVID-19 descended upon the globe, the event was not able to return. Due to society’s inherent resilience, however, the evening of Aug. 20, 2023 brought back the hot pizza, sweaty hands and Purell.
A new feature of the Annual Handshake was the school song, “Slinga de Ink”. This is the first time of the school year that the traditional tune is shared with the new students. Almost 100 years ago, a student by the name of Louis Niermeyer found the tune, wrote the words and performed the song in a quartet. The song quickly caught on and has been Union College’s pep song since 1926. Despite its former popularity, “Slinga de Ink” has been sung less and less over the years. Ty Bryan-Picard, a recent graduate in International Relations said, “I would confidently say I know half the song. It was not a prominent part of my time at Union College.” Bryan-Picard recalls singing the song on a total of two occasions during his time at Union.
Before the handshake began, “Slinga de Ink” took on a new sound that was pleasing to the ears of many students. Damion Dublin, Jehiel Exiel and Devin Alexander marched out onto the lawn with a snare drum, quad drums and a bass drum in hand. Together they added a new rhythm to the familiar song. Camryn Byers, a junior Nursing major, describes her experience: “It was nice to sing it as a school this year with a new drumline. I’ll remember that rendition forever.”
Kim Canine described an experience as a “God moment” when the song was sung with a spontaneous rhythm during the Handshake planning meeting. Less than a week later, brand new drums funded by a generous alumnus were purchased and on their way to Union to be used at the annual Handshake. Canine also mentioned plans to have other students trained in the art of “Slinga de Ink” percussion. As traditions of Union College are given new momentum, it can safely be said that “Slinga de Ink” is here to stay.
By Salissa Tonkin