OUR VIEW: Things that should be spontaneous

Webster’s Dictionary defines tradition as 1: an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior 2: the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction.

ASUSU seems to define tradition as 1: a last ditch effort at legacy 2: whatever they want it to be.

The Howl is a tradition. The howl is not, at least not yet. That’s why one is capitalized and one isn’t.

No legislating body can create a tradition. Things don’t work that way. Congress can’t do it. The Board of Regents can’t do it. ASUSU – even one that will be “heard for years” – certainly can’t do it.

What they can do is sponsor, support or even create events and hope they catch on.

Just taking something and calling it a tradition is like giving yourself a nickname. It just doesn’t work that way.

We’re glad to see that the library staff and the howlers were able to get together and come to an agreement. The howl will happen, hopefully in a way that works for everyone.

If you’re pro-howl, go howl your brains out, it’s allowed now.

If you’re anti-howl, don’t. Avoid the library, talk people out of participating, go and make mooing noises in protest, whatever.

In the end your actions will decide if the howl will become the Howl, making things here even more complicated.

In the end, student actions decide what becomes tradition.

Not ASUSU.