Howlers compromise, create new tradition
Whether a whimsical release of tension, a childish disruption or even the achievement of the year, the finals week howl has officially made enough noise to be sanctioned as a newborn USU tradition.
A meeting of the howl’s founding fathers, ASUSU representatives and library officials last week allowed all parties to communicate their intentions, and ensured that the howl is here to stay.
From 10 to 10:10 p.m. May 2, students are encouraged to howl their finals stresses away from wherever they happen to be – even if they’re in the library. Though past howl gatherings have centered in the library, generating calls to police and much campus controversy, Eric DeFries, one of the masterminds of the howl, said the intention was never to have the library as the epicenter, but rather to have howlers unite across Logan.
“Really our vision of the howl when we first thought of it was to target the entire campus, apartments and whatever – just wherever you are – to stop what you’re doing and howl,” DeFries said.
Linda Wolcott, the vice provost of the library, said the meeting clarified what the howl was intended to do.
“It was really helpful to meet with them,” Wolcott said. “We felt better about (the howl) because we were concerned that the library would be the focal point of it.”
John Elsweiler Jr., the associate director for public services, said now that library officials are in communication with the howlers and know it’s going to happen, things will run more smoothly. He acknowledged that in the first iterations of the howl, library staff “probably overreacted,” but it was because they were taken by surprise.
“We didn’t know what was going on, and all of a sudden this was happening, and our staff are told that if there’s a disturbance to call the police,” Elsweiler said.
Now that they know what is happening, the library administration seems fully supportive of the endeavor. Wolcott said she’s even considering getting wolf masks for the staff to put on as a way to participate in the festivities. For those disinclined to take part in the call of the finals, however, Wolcott said the library will advertise on the televisions in the library atrium, as well as make an announcement before it happens, so students can plan accordingly.
“They can just come to the library later or plan to take a break from studying then,” Wolcott said. “We want everyone to know what is happening.”
Wolcott said students will not be punished if they howl in the library, but Elsweiler said he would still encourage students to go outside.
“It’s a full-moon night,” Elsweiler said. “You can actually go out and howl at the full moon. How often is it going to be a full moon on the night of the howl?”
Karilyn Flake, ASUSU’s traditions director, said regardless of where people choose to howl, she’s excited about the birth of a new USU tradition, and plans to participate when the time comes.
“I love it because it’s a random thing that people can do and just relieve stress. It’s out of the ordinary, and it sets USU apart from other schools. That’s exactly what we want in traditions,” Flake said.
The tradition, though in its infancy, has already made a lot of noise outside the confines of Merrill-Cazier. An Associated Press report of the howl appeared in papers from New York to California, as well as on Web sites for FOX News and NBC. One of the finals week howl’s creators has even been nominated for a Robin’s Award for Achievement of the Year.
“It’s very, very flattering that someone would think that I did at least conjure up an achievement. We take this tradition seriously,” DeFries said.
DeFries said he is pleased that now he and his howl cohorts can openly promote the event, instead of being forced to be secretive about it, using word-of-mouth advertising as they had done in the past.
And though he doesn’t know where he’ll be at 10 p.m. on May 2, DeFries said he knows he will definitely be howling, along with anyone else who needs to relieve a little tension. It’s easy, DeFries said.
“Tilt your head back at a 45-degree angle, cup your hands and howl like there’s no tomorrow.”
Even if there is, and it looms with a final exam.
-jenbeasley@cc.usu.edu