Freshmen to begin new Crossing the Tracks tradition

Janet Rush and Murray Blackwelder
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The new tradition, created by Purdue Student Government and the Purdue Alumni Association, will take place at 11 p.m. Sunday (Aug. 13) at Rush Crossing, a 52-foot long replica of the old Purdue railroad tracks located in Centennial Mall between Stanley Coulter Hall and Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry. The railroad ran near the area prior to 1953.

Alumni Jim and Janet Rush provided the leadership gift for the tracks, generating an opportunity to tie four generations and more than 100 years of the Rush family attending Purdue to a new campus tradition. The Rush family joined representatives from the Purdue Alumni Association and Purdue Student Government on Thursday (Aug. 10) for the dedication of the tracks.

Jim and Janet Rush with their great nephew, Todd Rush
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More than 400 volunteers — including Purdue Pete, the Purdue cheerleaders and the Reamer Club, a student organization that supports university traditions — will be on hand to lead more than 5,000 freshmen across the tracks for the first time. The freshmen participating are involved in Boiler Gold Rush, a voluntary student orientation program for first-time students.

Freshmen will cross the tracks from the north side toward Memorial Mall, signaling the beginning of a lifelong relationship with Purdue, said Jonathan Foltz, president of Purdue Student Government.

"Following commencement, graduating seniors will cross from the south side of the tracks to the north toward the Bell Tower, symbolizing entry into a world of unlimited opportunity afforded by their Purdue education," Foltz said.

The Rushes have a long history with Purdue and railroading, making the tracks project a good fit, said Ben Paolillo, interim executive director of the Purdue Alumni Association.

"Seventeen members of the Rush family have attended or are attending Purdue, including a great nephew of Jim and Janet, who will be part of the first class to cross the tracks," Paolillo said. "Their family also has an extensive history with the railroad.

Crossing the Tracks
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"In 1905, Jim's grandfather, Jacob Henry Rush, became the first engineer of the Derry Express, a local run from Derry, Pa., to Pittsburgh. Both Joseph and Edward 'Leo,' Jim's father and uncle, followed in their father's footsteps and attended Purdue to become railroad engineers as well."

Another Rush family link to Purdue was forged when Jim Rush's company, Rush Metal Products Inc., donated material to the Reamer Club that was used to add the first passenger section to the Boilermaker Special, Purdue's official mascot.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Nicki Reas, Purdue Alumni Association director of external relations, (765) 496-6193

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

PHOTO CAPTION:
Janet Rush and Murray Blackwelder, Purdue's senior vice president for advancement, look at the plaque in the middle of Rush Crossing, a replica of the old Purdue railroad tracks that ran near the area prior to 1953. The tracks are located just north of the Memorial Mall between Stanley Coulter Hall and Wetherill Laboratory of Chemistry. (Purdue photo/Vince Walter)

A publication-quality photograph is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2006/rush-tracks.jpg

PHOTO CAPTION:
Alumni Jim and Janet Rush walk with their great nephew, Todd Rush (center), across Rush Crossing. The Rushes provided the lead gift to build the tracks, which will be included in a new tradition for all incoming and graduating students. (Purdue photo/Vince Walter)

A publication-quality photograph is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2006/rush-tracks2.jpg

PHOTO CAPTION:
Bryan Musser, a mason for Purdue Building Services, works on Rush Crossing. During Boiler Gold Rush, more than 5,000 freshmen will cross the tracks to signal the beginning of their relationship with Purdue. (Purdue University photo/David Umberger)

A publication-quality photograph is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2006/crossing-tracks.jpg

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