Pride light to honor both men and women athletes
The Aggie Blue Pride Light on Old Main will now illuminate the sky for all varsity sports team victories, not just men’s basketball and football.
After an organized effort among students to get the “A” lit for women’s basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, soccer and softball, Utah State University’s Executive Committee revised the policy on Oct. 8. Previously, only the most-attended sports were honored with the light, which meant men’s basketball and football.
The change to honor all varsity sports is now in effect, and the A was lit Sunday for the women’s soccer victory against Idaho.
Several of the USU gymnasts erupted into cheers when they heard about the policy change.
“We definitely are really happy about it,” said Katie Rutherford, gymnast and junior in anthropology. “From what I’ve heard, we’re the third-most-attended sport. We work our butts off six days a week, so it’s nice to get recognition.”
The revised policy also states the highest-attended club sport will receive recognition, which is currently hockey.
“[The policy] needed changing,” said John DeVilbiss, executive director of university public relations. “Our students pointed that out to us and we agreed with them.”
DeVilbiss said the university received a student-compiled petition with 333 signatures along with a list of suggestions for honoring all team sports. University President Kermit L. Hall and the Executive Committee looked over the information and decided it was time to change the policy.
“I commend our students for caring enough about this Utah State tradition to take the time to think critically and act constructively in helping us to make it more inclusive,” Hall said in a university press release. “Can we shine the light for every victory of every team or every academic achievement? No, but we hope the policy we now have in place is far more fair and representative of broader groups.”
In an effort to keep the light from shining so often that it loses distinctiveness, DeVilbiss said academic recognition will be limited to four times a year. Previously, the light shone for each individual academic achievement. Now, individuals distinguished during the course of three months will be honored together on one night, and receive a signed note of appreciation from Hall.
“Is [the solution] perfect?” DeVilbiss said. “I don’t think so. It never will be. This seems like the most fair way to handle this.”
Jessica Kettle (Rands), gymnast and junior in journalism, said she didn’t think the “A” would be less-special now that it will be lit more often.
“Winning is special,” Kettle said. “The more we win, the better.”
Kettle said that when the less-attended varsity sports never got recognition, they never had the chance to get the same support highly attended sports got.
Members of the men’s basketball and football teams said they were pleased with the revised policy. Jaison Carriger, football player and junior in business administration, said the policy exhibited equality now.
Basketball player Michael Ahmad said he signed the petition to change the policy.
“It’s cool because it’s fair to everybody else now. It brings a lot of sports together,” Ahmad said.
Rutherford said the policy would contribute to sports team unity.
“We’re all one team representing USU,” she said, “not just the individual sports.”
The blue light will continue to celebrate university events such as Commencement, Homecoming and A-Day. The next night for honoring academic achievement is Oct. 27.
-heidithue@cc.usu.edu