About 1,100 East Carolina University students took the “Polar Bear Plunge” into the 42-degree university Student Recreation Center’s outdoor pool Thursday evening as temperatures headed toward the teens and forecasts called for the possibility of frozen precipitation today.

Jon Wall, plunge coordinator, said the event started 17 years ago with 35 students participating as a way to celebrate the opening of the Student Recreation Center.

“Now it’s become a tradition,” he said. “Most people (who participate) are just proud to say they’ve done it.”

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