Traditions Week to reach finale with Mardi Gras
It’s only for one week, but it’s supposed to leave a lifetime of memories.
Traditions Week at Utah State University is all but over.
There is still break dancing, an improv show soon after and don’t forget about Mardi Gras Saturday night.
“It’s the best week of the year,” said Dave Osmond, Associated Students of USU organizations and traditions vice president.
Osmond feels student activities are more memorable than what you learn in the classroom.
“If you came and got your education and left, you didn’t get much of an education,” he said.
Kathryn Kemp, a freshman majoring in journalism, likes being involved with the organizations and traditions committee.
“It’s a chance to get involved,” she said. “Now I know what goes on, I’m not clueless.”
Already this week, students have seen a sweatshirt swap, Aggie Ice Cream, a STAB movie and a Hello Walk. All these activities have been free for students with money from student fees.
“In a way you’re getting your money back,” Osmond said.
It also lets students get involved by community service through the sweatshirt swap or by meeting new friends from the Hello Walk.
The old sweatshirts donated by students will be given to a humanitarian organization. A new traditions sweatshirt was swapped for old ones. Osmond hopes the trade-in sweatshirts will go to a third world country.
He feels it is necessary to give service to others because service is in USU’s mission statement. It also benefits everyone involved.
“It helps someone out, [while] helping you out,” he said.
Osmond also likes the Hello Walk, where students are encouraged to say hello to others on the stretch of sidewalk between Old Main and the Business Building because it encourages socialization and friendliness.
“By the end of the year, everybody knows everybody,” he said.
Wednesday, the band Hercummer played while ASUSU servied ice cream in the Taggart Student Center. “Zoolander” was shown later that night in the TSC Auditorium. Everyone was encouraged to dress up like models so they could strut their stuff on a walk off. There were prizes for the best costumes.
If you haven’t been able to attend any of these events, Friday evening there is Bust-A-Groove, a break-dancing contest held from 7 to 8:30 in the TSC Ballroom. At 9 p.m. in the TSC Ballroom there will be an improv show, “Do you want fries with that?” by Mr. USU, Ricky Hacking.
The last event will be Mardi Gras on Saturday night in the TSC. Originally called Casino Night, the name was changed to reflect a diversity of activities. In the last four years, attendance has increased from 400 to 4,000 people.
This year there will be fake gambling, palm and tarot readers, belly dancers, swing dancers and tattoo artists. There will also be numerous bands from locals such as Final Warning, to Recycled, from New Hampshire.
And don’t forget to bring beads. If not, between 9:30 p.m. and 1 a.m., you can steal everyone else’s.
-acbailey@cc.usu.edu