the Informer

Photo: Sarah Wilson

It’s hard to miss the anchor upon entering the University of Hartford, and some students note that it is the first thing they notice at the school. The most eye appealing aspect of the anchor is its decorative paint.

It has been a tradition for years to paint the anchor; it is painted frequently by different groups. The anchor is the perfect outlet for students to show their support for the university and their organizations. Different groups at the University have shown their spirit and creativity by decorating the anchor.

The anchor is a very big piece of metal and is thirteen feet tall and weighs three tons. The anchor was acquired by the university in March 1958. The anchor comes from the warship U.S.S Hartford, and the warship played a huge role in the Northern United States’ victory in the Civil War. Most of the other parts of the ship were distributed to museums. The ship is one surviving artifact from the war and is considered a relic.

If groups are looking to paint the anchor, they should speak to Marcia Suess, the administrative assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs, Lee Peters. Suess will help student organizations figure out when is the best time to paint the anchor. Each group that wants to paint it is allotted three days to have their work on display, and all the group must do is fill out a form to be able to officially paint the anchor. Having the paper agreement is important for Public Safety in order to discern who is allowed to paint the anchor and who is not authorized.

The busiest times to schedule a painting are during the fall and the spring. Winter is not as busy of a time due to the colder temperatures and possible inclement weather.

So what happens if an organization paints over another organization’s work? The organization leader or contact person will be contacted and notified. Then the organization that paints the anchor without permission usually is forced to reimburse the other. In the end, it is less costly to go through Suess and complete the appropriate paperwork.

Students can contact Suess at 860-768-4285 or suess@hartford.edu.