OUR VIEW: What determines the blue light?

Walking to campus on a late night to study for a midterm the next day, students are greeted by the warm soft glow of Old Main. Sometimes, instead of it being a soft white light, it is a deep soul-piercing blue. Then you remember varsity athletics had a game over the weekend and that is why it is lit up.

The administration lights the Aggie Blue Pride Light to recognize ticket sales and athletics teams doing well. The blue light is also lit for outstanding academic achievements and other important activities on campus. So, everyone should get equal representation, if they go through the proper channels for getting the light lit up for them.

The university offers a Web page to find out why the light is blue. This Web page is there for those who are in doubt about the light being lit for anything but football and basketball. But the site (www.usu.edu/about/president/blupridelight) hasn’t been updated since May 12, 2003 for the Robbins Awards. This Web page does not inform students, faculty and alumni about what is happening on campus. When a person goes to this site to read about campus recognitions, they are welcomed by a message from May.

The blue light is a great idea to recognize when achievements are made. When the light is lit for athletics everyone knows why, but If it is lit on a night other than an athletic event, no one knows why. The blue light is an excellent concept for recognition, but needs to be executed better.