During orientation, the freshman class takes a walk with the president of the college and the college chaplain to Sister Elisabeth Oesterlein's grave. Sister Oesterlein was the first teacher at Salem and was dedicated to the principle of educating young women. During the spring of the senior year, the students again pay homage to Sister Oesterlein by planting a class tree before graduation. Fall Fest is a great example of a tradition at Salem that helps to build community. It is an all-day competition for which classes are suspended.
Students compete by class for a spirit award.
The award can be won by singing the loudest in the Refectory, preparing the best skits, or even having the best t-shirt design. Freshman class unity is obvious for the first time at Fall Fest. The day before Fall Fest is also a great tradition on campus. Freshmen receive a junior as a big sister and they keep the same sister until she graduates. As juniors, they adopt their own freshman sister, and the cycle begins again.