College traditions are an important part of school culture, creating something unique and memorable for the students to be part of and look back on. Murray State University in Kentucky has a "shoe tree" where couples who met at the school, or their "sole mates" hang shoes on the tree for a lifetime of good luck.

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Michigan State University, meanwhile, has a problematic tradition where students light furniture on fire following major sports victories. While the fires are known to be contained, it is a frowned upon tradition due to the waste, danger, and it being illegal.

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A firefighter putting out a sofa on fire in East Lansing. / MLive via YouTube
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Like MSU, Central Michigan University (CMU) is nationally known for a controversial tradition that will now return for its 3rd year in a row but was started in 1982. Why does it have such a spotty record? Well, because it has been banned multiple times.

Central Michigan Alumni Association via YouTube
Central Michigan Alumni Association via YouTube
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CMU's Toilet Paper Toss

CMU's storied past of throwing an obscene amount of toilet paper onto the McGuirk Arena basketball court is a roller coaster ride, so check your lap bar. The tradition ran on and off from 1983 to 1987 before it was stopped. The reason why the tradition was stopped is pretty obvious: it's very inconvenient for everyone to clean up.

Central Michigan Alumni Association via YouTube
Central Michigan Alumni Association via YouTube
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Refs weren't too pleased with having to wait for cleanup, often charging CMU with a technical foul, and there were fears of students getting hurt. However, when the tradition took place, it was a hit among the students. Residence halls would begin running short on toilet paper and nearby stores would have sales on toilet paper before games.

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Is This Tradition OK In 2025?

This tradition was brought back in 2023, however we live in a pretty different world than in the 1980s when this mainly took place. Back in 1988, there was an estimated 3,000-4,500 rolls of toilet paper being thrown.

Today, attendance for these games is around 5,000 fans, with the school stating it will provide all fans with a roll of toilet paper. For context, it is said that the average person uses 85 rolls a year.

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A Waste?

I'm not a mathematician, but quick math shows that if 5,000 people are throwing a single roll of toilet paper, that is about 58 people's entire supplies of toilet paper in a year being wasted. After the throw, all toilet paper will be recycled, which is good but still considered a waste.

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Toilet paper has been a hot commodity in recent years, with supply chains struggling to keep up with demand and people hoarding products as seen during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2025, the cost of living and groceries have families penny-pinching where possible.

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Wasting perfectly good toilet paper over nothing seems unnecessary, and surely the university could find a more renewable way to sustain this tradition. If you want to witness the tradition in person, the Chippewas take on the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday, January 25th. 

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Gallery Credit: Chris Monroe

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