Pride light equality?
The Aggie Blue Pride Light on top of Old Main has only been at Utah State University since 1997, but it is now causing controversy.
The blue light is only lit for men’s basketball and football victories, occasionally it is also lit when a USU team wins a conference title.
In actuality, lighting the pride light has nothing to do with gender but is based on ticket sales, said John DeVilbiss, executive director of public relations and marketing.
Last year, home ticket sales for football totaled $654,473, men’s basketball was next with $476,355, according to information provided by Athletics Media Relations Director Mike Strauss.
Women’s volleyball, gymnastics, and softball had a combined revenue of $14,428.
This is not meant to discourage women’s sports, the light is simply used to highlight the sports with the most fan interest, DeVilbiss said. In comparison, the University of Utah has a U light that is lit for men’s and also women’s sports regularly.
The U light is only lit for athletic events, except for an occasional lighting order that the university issues. While the U of U is able to honor both men’s and women’s sports with the light, they do not have to deal with the light constantly being lit due to other recognitions outside of athletics.
A common misconception among students is that the blue light is lit only for athletics.
“Whenever I used to see it was lit I never knew why, so I would assume it was an away game that was played,” said Alizabeth Basset, a junior studying English.
The lighting of the blue pride light is not a random thing, DeVilbiss said.
“It is something that is meant to honor those who impact the university in a positive way and who advance the mission of Utah State,” DeVilbiss said.
There are various categories for which the blue light shines, which include institution, student, staff and athletic achievements.
USU is aware of the public concern on what sports are honored by the light, DeVilbiss said.
He said that just because it is policy now, does not mean that it can’t be addressed.
“If students have concerns, they should express them to us,” he said.
DeVilbiss said he welcomes student input and said that if enough people express concern then it will be brought back to the table to discuss and possibly change the current policy.
For those who see the blue light shining and are confused as to why, there is a university Web site available to check out what recognition it is for. The listing of times the blue light will be turned on can be accessed on President Kermit L. Hall’s Web site at www.usu.edu/about/president/.
Lighting of the pride light is not based on gender and is something that needs to be done frugally. If it is lit for more sports, then some other category will have to be eliminated.
“We are trying to keep it special. That is why we are choosy to what occasion to use it for,” DeVilbiss said.
Another factor to consider is that women’s basketball is new this year and was not present during the policy making of the blue light.
Jennifer Pearson, a senior studying elementary education, expressed her solution to the problem.
“I think that if people want to see the ‘A’ lit for women’s sports they should start going to the games,” she said.
-gmblake@cc.usu.edu