ASUSU VIEW: Homecoming Week, leave your legacy
It’s that time of year again. Leaves are changing, our football team is winning, the air is crisp, and Homecoming has arrived.
Our theme this year is “Leave your Legacy: Once an Aggie, Always an Aggie.” College is supposed to be the time of our lives, right? Our experiences here are what connect us to this University. They are what motivate us to become proud alumni. I wanted students to take this week and think about making their mark on Utah State.
We planned the week with the students as our main priority. We’re kicking things off Monday with free lunch provided by the LDS Student Association on the patio at noon.
Come 9 p.m. Monday, we’ll be getting the night started with one of my favorite traditions, street painting. Clubs and organizations from around campus gather to represent themselves in street murals all along 700 North.
Also starting at 9 p.m. is a campus favorite, the Paint Dance. The party will be located on the HPER Field and will feature DJ Breezy. The best part is, the paint will be fluorescent and illuminated by lots of black light power. Imagine the paint bar in Miss Congeniality and add 2,000 dancing Aggies and good music. It’s going to be a blast.
Tuesday will be a nice, chill day started off with our Mr. USU contestants serving free Aggie Ice Cream on the Plaza at noon, followed that evening with Moonlight and Music featuring Kaylee Cole and headliner Benton Paul in the amphitheater at 6 p.m. The night will end with a viewing of Toy Story 3 in the TSC Ballroom at 8 p.m.
Wednesday holds my favorite event, Mr. USU. The competition has 10 great contestants representing all eight colleges, the Greek community, and diversity. Each will compete to be crowned the new Mr. USU and awarded with a custom ring made and donated by S.E. Needham Jewelers. The competition begins at 7 p.m. and admission is $2, or $1 with a can of food. All food collected will be donated to the Student Nutrition Access Center.
Thursday is packed full with three events. First off is Alpha Chi Omega Dollar Days. The sorority will be out on the plaza selling hot dogs and other products for $1. All proceeds will be donated to their philanthropic cause, Victims of Domestic Violence.
Thursday evening will include a Luau in the Fieldhouse providing students with free food and performances by the Polynesian Student Union. The party will run from 6-8 p.m.
After the Luau, the girls around campus have a game on their plate. The Powderpuff Football tournament will be held at 9:30 p.m. at Romney Stadium. Four teams will compete for the championship title and only one will come out the winner.
Friday’s festivities begin with the HURD serving free Scotsman Dogs on the TSC Plaza at noon. Following that is something I’m really excited about: the Homecoming Time Capsule. To go along with our theme and to kick off the new decade, we’ve decided to give students the chance to freeze some time in history. We’ll have a photobooth available and letter-writing supplies ready for anyone who wants to contribute.
Friday night will celebrate the week with the annual Homecoming Dance at 9 p.m. in the TSC. The dance will feature DJ Marcus Wing, jazz band The Utah Jazztet, and vocalist Nik Day. Admission is free and dates are not required, so come join the fun.
Of course the week wouldn’t be complete without everyone’s favorite tradition, True Aggie Night at midnight.
But don’t worry – the week isn’t over yet! Saturday morning starts off with a 5k fun run with a new twist. Prizes will be awarded to not only the fastest time but also the person who is adorned with the most Aggie spirit wear. There will also be a mile-long race for the youth in our community. Registration will begin that morning at 8 a.m. in front of the HPER building.
After the football, which kicks off at 3 p.m., we’ve got a fun ending to the week. In the ballroom, we’ll be presenting Justin James, comedian hypnotist. He will be doing a show at 9 p.m. and another at 10:30 pm.
We’ve worked hard to make this week memorable and entertaining. I hope that everyone will come out and enjoy the activities we planned and enjoy Homecoming, one of college life’s best traditions.
Rachel Hansen is the ASUSU Traditions Director