Aggie moments mean much more to graduating seniors

By Tara Turley

May 3, 2005 | As graduating seniors at Utah State University are cramming for their finals, thinking about how funny they are going to look in those oversized gowns, and even more about what they are going to do after that big day. Their thoughts also turn to the last certain amount of years they have spent here at Utah State University.

Utah State is known for its traditions. How many Universities do you know that once held the record for the most people kissing at one time all because of a tradition? That tradition is becoming a True Aggie. This has become a rite of passage where two people go to the "A" on the quad under a full moon at midnight to kiss and become a True Aggie. You can also perform the ritual on Homecoming or A-day. Many students have taken that trip to the "A" and received the card and the title that goes with being True Aggie.

There are those students who haven't kissed a complete stranger on top of a cement "A" on campus. They may not be "True" Aggies but they are Aggies too. Those students look back on their years spent at Utah State and consider all of the times spent here and the everyday traditions to be what makes them Aggies.

One of those traditions is Aggie Ice Cream. There are 27 flavors with plans to add a new flavor annually. Aggie Ice Cream is sold throughout the world in places like Korea. It is also enjoyed out of this world and was the first ice cream in space. You don't have to be in Logan to enjoy Aggie Ice Cream, it is available for purchase online.

The Hello Walk is another tradition. The Hello Walk was started back when the University didn't have so many students and those students wanted a designated area for them to say "hello" to each other on. The student population has grown so much that there is a specific day where students will stand on the Hello Walk and say "hello" to students walking by. This tradition is useful in that it helps students meet new people. If you ask a student what their favorite part of Utah State is they usually say the people they meet.

Kortney Teigen said, "It's fun to walk around campus and go to the social events and meet new people. Utah State is good at providing different activities for its students."

Some of those activities include The Howl. Students from other universities in Utah and Idaho come to Utah State on or around Halloween and attend The Howl. Everyone dresses up and there are live bands, food, karaoke and dancing.

Gina Blake said, "Everyone always dresses crazy and I look forward to seeing what someone is going to wear next."

Another activity at USU is the annual Mardi Gras at Utah State. An estimate 4,000 people attend this event every year where the festivities include fake gambling, dancing and drag queens. Colored beads are earned that night by participating in another lip locking tradition and those beads and the secrets they hold can be seen randomly around campus for weeks following.

Some students like the spontaneous activities that have added to their Aggie memories. Emily Galbraith said, "I love sitting on the quad on a sunny day and doing nothing. Or pulling random all-nighters and going to WalMart at four in the morning."

Other students remember the athletic events. Aggie athletics are diverse and include lacrosse, rugby and a record breaking track team. With a bright future in store for the football team under new head coach Brent Guy and more NCAA appearances in store for our basketball teams, Aggies will not only remember the times of painted faces and student brawls in Anaheim, but look to many more Aggie events in the future. Even those graduating seniors will find themselves singing, "Utah State, Hey Aggies all the way; go Aggies, go Aggies, Hey! Hey! Hey!" for years to come.

While sitting on the quad on that sunny day, a graduating senior may be thinking of all that went into their Aggie experience. Singing "there's a long, long trail a winding" song with Dr. Ballam at nine in the morning. Dissecting cadavers in Andy Anderson's Human Anatomy class. Attempting to learn about finances in Family Finance or taking a math class in a different language. These are experiences that are shared by many Utah State students.

Suddenly the Alma Mater song means so much more to them. Wherever the seniors go in the future they will be able to come back to the Cache Valley and see that blue Aggie Pride light shining in the distance. That light symbolizes Aggie tradition, heritage and pride. Tradition after all is about a mode of thought or behavior followed by a people continuously from generation to generation. The generations are continuously following in the footsteps of their predecesors and students will continue to come stand where the sagebrush grows.

As they return to the valley the alumni will sing, "Across the Quad at eventide, as shadows softly fall, the tower of Old Main appears and peace rests over all. The lighted "A" upon the hill stands out against the blue; Oh, Alma Mater, Utah State, my heart sings out to you. And through the years as time rolls on, and student friendships grow, We'll ne'er forget the joys we had, those days we used to know. Thy mem'ries ever will be new, thy friends be ever true; Oh, Alma Mater, Utah State, my heart sings out to you."

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