Traditions emerge in annual A-Week
Two True Aggie Nights, a historical chariot race and a visit from a love doctor headline the events of this year’s A-Week from April 18-22.
A-Week, which will be illuminated by a blue “A” on Old Main each night of the week, follows months of preparation, said Whitney Olson, an Student Alumni Association (SAA) A-Week committee member.
Other slated events include a midnight 5K run, a “Minute to Win It” speed contest, an Aggie Radio coat drive and a pajama and pillow fight dance Friday evening to conclude A-Day.
For some, including SAA Executive Vice President Caleb Gorringe, A-Week will represent a shift from how the event-filled week has operated in past springs.
“(SAA commitees) have kind of held on to the status quo for some time, but the (A-Week committee) had one of those experiences where they wanted to break the mold a bit more,” he said.
Gorringe said events from the past, including a ping-pong drop on the quad and a “running of the bull” episode, have undergone a “new twist.”
He said, “Every day there will be a quality activity. I think that will show.”
Gorringe said working with budget restrictions is at the top of their list of priorities.
“It’s one of those things that probably happens to everybody, where you think you can do these cool things before realizing you have to deal with a cap,”Gorringe said. “But you make (the budget) go as far as you can make it. We make the best with the budget we’ve been allotted.”
Gorringe said the committee utilized businesses, including Red Bull, to sponsor several events. The entities involved will receive on-campus advertising, while SAA benefits by sparing their cash, he said.
“Because we did try to think of a good activity every night, we had to think outside the box to team up with organizations like in the chariot race event with Red Bull,” he said. “Even though we did not have the money, by having others sponsor some of these things like the chariot race, we have enhanced A-Week just because of that.”
Helping students gain knowledge of the events has been another barrier, said Kyle Hardy, SAA executive board A-Day vice president.
“The most challenging thing, obviously, is getting the world out to the entire campus, just reaching all the students attending both here and at distance education,” he said.
Olson said students can trust that they will enjoy themselves because the week has been organized by like-minded individuals.
“Since we, of course, are college students, we try to cater to what college students would want to do,” she said.
Olson said despite the variety of events, all are meant to aid students in gaining Aggie spirit by maintaining a large measure of festive university customs.
“A-Week is significant to the history of Utah State,” she said. “For example, A-Day on Friday is a longstanding tradition. The reason why A-Week was started is it’s based on service. A lot of these activities involve giving service back to the university, so the week is increasing pride because the students are taking a part in a tradition that has been going for long time. Being involved this week is a great way to be involved, do service and give back to the university.”
A-Week’s inaugural Red Bull-sponsored Chariot Race at 7 p.m. by the HPER field on 800 E. road between 700 and 800 N. will be closed. No vehicles will have access to this area during the event and no vehicles will be permitted to be parked on the street in this area for the entire day. No vehicles will be able to enter or exit parking lots in this area during that time.
– rhett.wilkinson@aggiemail.usu.edu