Mardi Gras
KVNU’s searchlight beckoned to them. They came in droves.
Utah State University students partied at the annual Mardi Gras celebration held in the Taggart Student Center Saturday. From 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. they danced, gambled and ate.
Students arriving at the TSC were greeted by members of the Student Activities Board (STAB) who were handing out strings of green, purple, gold, silver, pink, red and orange beads.
Danielle Gardner, a senior majoring in family consumer sciences, said the beads are a tradition during Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
“Beads are thrown from floats and people catch them. Here we are giving one strand to each person – while supplies last,” Gardner said laughing.
Gardner said traditional colors of Mardi Gras beads are green, purple and gold, which are also the colors of the Utah, formerly New Orleans, Jazz.
Another tradition at Mardi Gras, which was also present at USU’s Mardi Gras is the king cake. Gardner said the king cake is baked with a small baby doll inside. Whenever someone gets the baby in his or her slice of cake, that person is supposed to throw the Mardi Gras party the following year. However, at USU, students who found the baby were able to win prizes like televisions, compact disc players and DVD players.
The Hub was chock full of activity as partygoers gathered to gamble with the $50 in free chips they were given upon entry. Craps, roulette and blackjack were all available.
“We have about 50 dealers out there,” said Justin Hamilton, STAB chair of special events and organizer of the Mardi Gras.
Jonathan Atwood, a sophomore public relations major who played the role of blackjack dealer said he worked the same game for four hours at last year’s Mardi Gras.
Atwood said he promised to help out gamblers at his table.
“This is Mardi Gras,” Atwood said. “Everyone needs to have fun.”
The TSC basement was designated as Bourbon Street, the famous New Orleans thoroughfare, while Dixieland jazz music played over the public address system.
“I had a DJ make a mix of New Orleans music,” Hamilton said.
Walking down “Bourbon Street,” students bought glow sticks and ate free cotton candy and popcorn.
Other students wandered to the tarot card readers or had their caricatures drawn. Jesters also meandered down Bourbon Street, cracking jokes and offering to juggle.
Kim Linford, who owns the gambling tables, is a resident of North Logan and former activities vice president of the Associated Students of Utah State University.
Linford said USU had a casino night in days gone by.
“I had up to 100 dealers,” Linford said. “The second floor of the TSC was filled.”
Linford said he is the only casino equipment owner between Cache Valley and Salt Lake City and frequently does business parties and all-night parties at schools, while giving instructions on gambling rules and technique.
Ben Nielsen, a junior majoring in biology, rolls his second set of dice while playing craps at Mardi Gras in The Hub. (Joseph Dougherty )