UNIL symbols
Symbols in pictures
-
Gown project, Ernest Biéler, 1935 -
Albert Barraud, Rector, 1936, photographed by Gaston de Jongh -
Cover of L'Illustré, 10 June 1937 -
The seal of 1537 -
The seal of 1890 -
The seal of 1937 -
Making the new academic gown -
Making the new academic gown -
The new academic robes, unveiled at the Dies Academicus on 2 June 2023 -
Front of the medallion on the Rector's chain -
Back of the medallion on the Rector's chain -
The solid silver weight was made by Mr Boulgaris, a goldsmith in Montreux.
The seals
1537
In 1537, their Excellencies in Bern established a Protestant Academy of Theology in Lausanne. In this context, the symbolism of the first seal could not be clearer: a bear bringing a Gospel to its Waldensian subjects!
1890
The Academy becomes the Université de Lausanne. Its new seal featured not only the coat of arms of the canton of Vaud, but also that of the city of Lausanne accompanied by its two lions. The owl with its wings outstretched symbolises the knowledge that this noble institution disseminated.
1937
To celebrate its 400th anniversary, the Université de Lausanne wishes to reconnect with its origins and remind the world that it was first born as a school of theory and literature. Inspired by the portal of the cathedral in Lausanne, the new seal depicts Christ holding a book (a classic academic reference) and a piece of wheat. The legend explains its meaning: "When the seed is planted, it will bear fruit a hundredfold" (according to the Gospel of Saint Luke 8.8).
Academic dress
Since 1928, the University Commission has been recommending the creation of an official costume for representatives of the University of Lausanne. Although this practice is commonplace in other countries, it is not yet the case in Swiss universities.
The University of Lausanne is the only university in Switzerland to have an official costume.
In 1935, on a proposal from the University Commission, the Senate agreed to introduce academic dress for the rector and deans. However, it was only to be worn at official events organised abroad.
At the same time, the Senate agreed to the introduction of an academic uniform for the rector and deans.
Professor Frank Olivier, dean of the Faculté des lettres from 1916 to 1918, rector from 1920 to 1922 and chancellor from 1918 to 1920 then from 1922 until his retirement in 1939, will be in charge of getting the academic robe reémique.
A request will be made to the painter Ernest Biéler (1863-1948) to réalise a sketch of the dresses.
The gowns are black and differ by their velvet facing, each faculty will be assigned a colour:
- Sciences: green
- Medecine: blue
- Literature: yellow-orange
- Theology: purple
- Law: red
- Rector: ermine (the rector's gown and toque have a genuine ermine facing)
Then usage increased and members of the University Commission began to wear the gown at events other than those mentioned in 1935. Indeed, although the dress was initially introduced for official events held abroad only, the rector wore it in Lausanne for the 400th anniversary of the University in 1937, as confirmed on the cover of L'Illustré of 10 June 1937.
Until the 1980s, there is very little trace of this practice in the sources, and it is therefore difficult to decipher the actual use of these dresses.
In 1987, for the 450th anniversary of the Academy, the rectorate decided to review the academic robes with the deans. To mark the commemorative nature of this year, the Dies Academicus will also be celebrated in robes. Since then, the custom of wearing a gown for this day has been retained.
Currently, the rector no longer wears the gown with the ermine trim, but with the velvet trim in the colour of the faculty he represents.
2022: changing academic dress
Taking office in 2021, the University's management has decided to change the face of academic dress. In 2022, it has decided to launch a competition among fashion design and dressmaking schools in the canton of Vaud, with the brief of designing a modern, modern, modern dress. The brief was to create a modern, comfortable and easy-to-wear garment in contemporary materials, while respecting the colour code and spirit of the University.
A jury made up of members of the Management, representatives of the University Community and a member of the artistic community selected the winning project.
Specifically, he learned about the proposal for a unisex design in addition to the traditional ones, the removable facings thanks to hidden press studs and the fluidity of the garment made from a co-responsible fabric.
The winner, Amun Abshir Idle, is a graduate of the sewing workshop at the Centre d’Orientation et de Formations professionnelles (COFOP). The production of the dresses has also been entrusted to this establishment under the supervision of vocational teacher Catherine Muriset.
They were inaugurated at the Dies Academicus on 2 June 2023.
The rector's chain
The University of Lausanne decided to introduce a chain for the rector at the end of 1957. The 9.5 cm diameter 925 silver medallion, inspired by the portal of the cathedral in Lausanne, depicts Christ holding a book and a piece of wheat in his hands. It is inscribed with "Sigillum universitatis Lausoniensis" and "Semen ortum faciet fructum centuplum" which means "Seal of the University of Lausanne"which was finished in 1937 on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the University, and "Raised up, the seed will bear fruit a hundredfold" which comes from the Gospel according to Saint Luke (8.8).
The mass
The mass, in solid silver, was made by M. Boulgaris, goldsmith in Montreux.
It was presented to the University of Lausanne at a ceremony held on Wednesday 5 July 1950 in the Salle du Sénat universitaire. It was donated on behalf of various associations in the canton of Vaud and the student societies of Lausanne.
At the top of the mass, we find Christ depicted on the portal of Lausanne's cathedral and who has formed the central motif of the university bucket and its motto (Semen ortum faciet fructum centuplum) since 1937.
Sources
-
UNIL logo
Information on seals
-
Lausanne Official Gazette of 6 July 1950
Articles published in the feuille d'Avis de Lausanne on 6 July 1950