Students continue USU tradition of street painting
Hundreds of students attended the paint dance and the street painting Homecoming events Monday. Many students were covered from head to toe in blue and white paint while the disk jockey played music on the HPER field just outside the tent where the students got painted.
Crystal Degen, traditions director for ASUSU, said street painting has been a tradition on campus for quite some time now, nobody is sure of the exact date, and it’s a tradition she said she feels is a lot of fun. She said the fraternities and sororities are the ones who began decorating the streets right out in front of their homes. Over the years the university has gotten more involved and encouraged campus groups and other organizations to do the same thing on 700 North. Degen said any club or organization on campus is welcome to paint on the street.
“It’s great for organizations and clubs to get involved in this Homecoming activity because it helps you get to know your club and build friendships within it,” Degen said. “It also builds leadership and creativity within your group, too. Another fun thing is that they end up painting each other. It just turns into a really fun event. I think the best thing though is getting to know your club members and participating and supporting traditions of Homecoming Week.”
Kayla Butcher, activities chair of the USU Big Band Swing club, said they chose to participate in the street painting because, “It’s tradition, and it’s our 10 year anniversary of our club and we want to celebrate that.”
Butcher said her club painted two swing dancers who are doing the lindy hop. Butcher said she’s been in the club for three years now and thinks street painting is a fun tradition.
“We just want everyone to know they are welcome to join our club. It’s good, clean fun and a great way to meet new people and learn how to dance,” said Emilee King, president of the Big Band Swing club.
She also said she thought street painting is a lot of fun and a good way for everyone to get involved and celebrate Homecoming.
A new tradition that just started last year is the paint dance before the street painting. The paint dance started at 9 p.m. and went to 12 a.m. The street painting went from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. Degen said for the paint dance they set up a tent on the HPER field with 100 gallons of paint inside. Students could enter the tent and throw paint at each other. The students then exited the tent housing the DJ and danced on the HPER field. The paint dance cost around $3,000.
“Paint dancing is a blast,” Degen said. “It was, like, everyone’s favorite event last year.”
Degen said street painting is the school’s kick off for Homecoming and makes people notice the university more. She also said the event makes people that used to go to school look at the paintings on the road and take them back to when they were at USU and how their Homecomings were.
“We just hope people will get out and get involved in traditions this week. It’s a lot of fun and people are missing out if they don’t,” she said.
The street paintings used water-based paints, Degen said, and there weren’t any rules outlined.
“We don’t know why we would need rules,” Degen said. “We don’t know why the clubs wouldn’t want a good design. They need to keep it clean, but we’ve never had any problems.”
Degen said this is the first year the paintings will be judged. She said there will be three categories of winners and those winners will be sent checks.
“I hope people get excited for Homecoming this year,” Degen said. “It’s the best week of the school year in my opinion. I also encourage throwing paint because it’s a good way to release stress.”
–s.k.b@aggiemail.usu.edu