Homecoming revives old traditions
Over 200 alumni and their families plan to attend events this week such as True Aggie Night, the annual Homecoming 5-kilometer race, and the Homecoming Game — all part of the 2011 Homecoming Week, said media marketing designer for Alumni Relations Kevin Crouch.
“Homecoming is a huge part of USU,” Crouch said. “And not just for the students. The community of Logan and old alumni love it as well. They want to relive the glory.”
But alumni are not the only thing being brought back to campus for Homecoming Week, this year. Forgotten traditions such as the The Hello Walk will take place Sept. 23.
The Hello Walk is the stretch of sidewalk from Old Main to the Business Building. When The Hello Walk was donated to USU, it was given only on the condition that Sept. 25 — or Sept. 23 if the 25 falls on a Sunday — every year, all students would say “Hello” to one another. The tradition has become slowly less prominent, said Student Alumni Coordinator Brianna Bodily, and almost slipped into oblivion. But, she said, she is organizing the student alumni to bring the tradition back.
At midnight, this year for True Aggie Night, USU is going to break the Guinness World Record for the longest kissing chain, Bodily said. Students will all stand in lines and kiss someone in front of them, and then someone behind them. A judge from Guinness will be there to make sure the kissing is executed according to the rules.
More Homecoming Week events include the Homecoming Parade, which will take place Saturday in downtown Logan, the All-Aggie reception, street painting, the paint fight, the Homecoming breakfast and the All-Aggie Pre-Game Party. There are also dozens of small events such as the Battle of the Bands, the Powder Puff Football series, and the College of Agriculture Tractor Parade.
“One of the events that I personally am excited for is the sleepover on the Quad, on Friday,” said elementary education major Aubrey Smith.
Another highlight Friday, is special guest coach Dale Brown, former Aggie and two-time NCAA Basketball Coach of the Year, who will speak in the International Lounge in the Taggart Student Center at 12:30 p.m. Brown was USU assistant basketball coach from 1966-1971 and was the former head coach at Louisiana State University.
“There are really so many events. There are fun things for everyone,” said Kylie Martinez, ASUSU Traditions Coordinator. “One fun thing about this year is that we have tried to create a coherent theme. Our motto is ‘Forever Blue, Once an Aggie Always an Aggie.'”
“The parade, the dance and Mr. USU are all going to be really cool and ‘50s-esque. That’s one of the things I think is most exciting,” Martinez said.
The last two events are the Homecoming Game against Colorado State and the Homecoming Dance, which will be held in the TSC.
– evan.millsap@aggiemail.usu.edu