Rutgers’ Myths and Urban Legends Part 1: Willie the Silent

As some people may not be aware of, Rutgers is a pretty old college institution. Founded in 1766 as Queen’s College, it has been around for a long time. Since that time, a lot of historical events occurred. The Declaration of Independence being signed ten years after the college was founded being a key moment. However, as students pass through and experience the “best four years” of their lives, different myths and legends spring up. Do they have any validity? Who knows really, but that is half the fun.

A pivotal urban legend that a lot of Rutgers students know is of the statue in the Voorhees Mall of William I, Count of Nassau, Prince of Orange1584). Or as we, Scarlett Knights like to call him, “Willie the Silent” or “Still Bill.”

Some key things to know about the statue, according to Wikipedia:

Picture taken by user

• It was installed in 1928 on the Voorhees Mall section of College Avenue Campus
• It is located along Seminary Place, a street at the western end of the Voorhees Mall, and is near several academic buildings, including the university’s Graduate School of Education, Van Dyke Hall, and Milledoler Hall.
•  The statue was donated to Rutgers by Dr. Fenton B. Turck to commemorate the university’s Dutch heritage.
• The statue has continued to be included in student life as the Voorhees Mall was used as the site of student and community events, including graduation ceremonies, pep rallies, festivals, and protests.
•  The statue is occasionally a target of vandalism in ongoing historical rivalry between students of Rutgers and Princeton University.

So what urban legend could some statue of a historical figure from the Netherlands be involved in? Well, according to Rutgers lore, the statue of Willie the Silent will whistle if a female virgin walks passed it.

How this legend came about and gained popularity?

The explanation that I could give is that someone must have been throwing shade, and it must have caught on. Instead of taking it for the shade it was, it could be possible that Rutgers decided to just accept it and run with it. While it hasn’t been reported on whether or not Still Bill has whistled in recent times or not, we can all still appreciate how such an urban legend has stood against the hands of time.

That is something to really admire about our wonderful school. While people have no problem saying bad things our school, they do not realize the countless positive things that could be said about it as well. What I have found to be the best part of our school is the attitudes we have when faced with the haters. We do not just sit back and let people say bad things, but instead prove through our actions that our school is actually a lot better than they perceive it to be. Even urban legends and myths based on petty remarks about the people that go to Rutgers are no match of the positive attitudes of its students.

Say what you want, but we are still very proud to call ourselves Scarlett Knights!!