For the 1930 Homecoming the rooks (freshmen) gathered fuel from all over Corvallis and built "the greatest woodpile ever hauled to the campus" on the lot between Waldo Hall and McAlexander Fieldhouse (near the current site of Snell Hall). The bonfire burned on the Friday night preceding Oregon State's homecoming football game against the University of Oregon. The Beavers shut out the Ducks 15-0 in that game.
The annual Barometer Bust, sponsored by Sigma Delta Chi, is scheduled every spring. All members of the Barometer staff attend and are amused by the antics of Sigma Delta Chi members and prospective pledges. A future Sigma Delta Chi member loses his pants as faculty members laugh in the background.