While most students were away for summer vacation, the Traditions Department within Student Government has been at work strategizing how to engage new and returning students in tradition-keeping.
“The goal of Traditions is to play a part in the everyday activities of an NC State student,” said Adam Armstrong, a senior studying mechanical engineering and one of this year’s co-directors of Traditions. “From cheering on the Wolfpack at Carter-Finley Stadium, to rubbing the Strolling Professor’s head the night before a big chemistry test, to participating in Service Raleigh, traditions are an active part of student culture whether the students even realize the traditions they are fostering.”
Perhaps the most popular and preferred method of keeping up with NC State’s many traditions is The Brick, a book published each academic year by the Traditions Department. It includes some of the most popular traditions at NC State, such as running in the Krispy Kreme Challenge, participating in Ag Week and studying in the stacks at D.H. Hill Library.
Armstrong added that for incoming freshmen, tradition-keeping may prove important in allowing students to build affinity to the university as well as the Raleigh community.
“Traditions are important because they bond NC State students together,” said Gavin Harrison, a senior studying biological sciences and last year’s director of Traditions. “Finding your place and niche at NC State really helps you assimilate into State.”
Among the traditions included in The Brick are several opportunities to promote Wolfpack athletics. Included in this section are guarding the Freedom Expression Tunnel during Ram Roast, participating in intramural sports and attending a non-revenue sporting event.
Beyond athletics and recreation, Student Government’s Traditions Department has made sure to include opportunities to serve the NC State and Raleigh communities.
“That’s in the culture that we breathe at NC State,” Harrison said.
The Brick has Service Raleigh and Dance Marathon, two of NC State’s most popular service opportunities, and highlights traditions with the potential to help students succeed academically.
“While some are just about fun, quite a few of them address academics,” Harrison said. “Meeting the dean of your college, going to the library to study, they really help to keep you on track and heading in the right direction. And even though some aren’t academic, like football traditions, you are getting involved at NC State with friends who, hopefully, have good study habits.”
And for those who would rather pave new paths in the way of tradition, Armstrong ensures students that NC State fosters a welcoming spirit to new traditions.
“A lot of people have the common misconception that a tradition is something that has been long standing and established ages ago,” Armstrong said. “However, from serving in many tradition-oriented roles, creating new traditions is just as important as fostering the older ones. From the traditions of Homecoming and Campout, to new developing ones such as the snowball fights on the Court of North Carolina, all have an equal mark for students to leave their legacy in.”
Harrison has a simple piece of advice for all NC State students: “Get involved. Not only with organizations, but find people who aren’t like you, and find traditions that you might be missing out on.”
To become an official NC State Tradition Keeper, students must complete 40 traditions in “The Brick.” Copies of The Brick are handed out at New Student Orientation, but any extra copies can be requested by emailing [email protected].
