Kiss and Tell: History of the True Aggie
Pucker up.
It’s allowed.
Students at Utah State University wanting to kiss and tell about it may do so on the second True Aggie night this year, after the homecoming dance on Oct. 10 at midnight.
Just as long as you don’t mind hundreds of your “closest” friends to be there as well.
Exactly what is a True Aggie and how can one become one is an interesting story.
True Aggie is the term given to those who on homecoming, A-Day or on a full moon each month a full moon promenade to the A next to Old Main and kiss their love, friend, or stranger. On homecoming or A-Day, neither kisser needs to be a True Aggie. However, when the moon is full each month, one person must already be a True Aggie in order to pass on the tradition to the other. In case this is forgetten, a plaque is placed on the base of the platform explaining the rules.
The tradition started in 1916 when a group of young men from Salt Lake City, known as the Be-Noes, came to USU. The Be-Noes were a group of boys in high school that for some reason were not allowed to form a club. Since there would be no club, they decided to call themselves the Be-Noes and have a club anyway. At USU, one Be-Noe member built the A as we know it – a four-tiered white A base with a blue platform on top. The tradition started when a young man had to kiss a willing young lady atop the A under a full moon at midnight. The ritual spread across the campus and that became the way by which a person could become a True Aggie.
The tradition lives on again for this year’s homecoming and hundreds of students are expected to participate. In the past as many as 2,000 couples have come to True Aggie Night. Every year there is a star couple that receives special right to stand atop the “A”. There is going to be a special celebrity couple again this year. Previous True Aggie stars have been President Kermit L. Hall with his wife Phyllis and Gov. Mike Leavitt with his wife Jacqueline, said Becky Nudd, a member of the Student Alumni Association executive council last year. There is a True Aggie patrol that passes out cards that can be signed by the new True Aggies and can be laminated at the Alumni House. There will also be a disc jockey, Rick Roes, who will set the mood with some nice, mellow music.
Interested in becoming a True Aggie? Plan to come early if you want to be close to the A. All couples must gather around or on top of the A and be touching someone who is touching the A for the rite to take pass. This year there will be tiki tourches and trees wrapped with lights to make the night extra nice.
“It’s going to be a classy, special event,” said Shane Sarlo, SAA Aggie Pride Vice President. “It’s [just] not going to be a bunch of people making out.”
If you’re not a True Aggie, make the trip to the “A” at homecoming or another night with a full moon. Someone’s lips will thank you for it.
-acbailey@cc.usu.edu