Good for the Ivy

According to the alumni office files, Omaha University's colors are red and black because back in 1916 an alumni committee was formed to choose the school colors. The committee � three men and two women � whose names have been blotted out by merciful time � met quietly one December night close to Christmas.

Caught up in the nostalgia that comes around Christmas time, one committee member said (and here just as they're recorded in the minutes of that historic meeting, are his words):

"Back at Wappello, Iowa, in high school we used the colors red and black. I don't see why Omaha University's colors shouldn't be red and black too."

Well, there were several arguments. One member suggested red and green. But the members voted that down as "too Christmasy." And, finally, all five committee members agreed that they couldn't see why Omaha University's colors couldn't be the same as those of the high school in Wapello, Iowa.

And that's how it happened, according to the records.