A 2010 survey has taken a life of its own, representing campus traditions and helping new students understand why their University is special.
If you’ve gone through an orientation on campus since 2010, you may remember receiving a very unique deck of cards. These cards were designed by members of Student Government and CSLEPS to showcase the student body’s 54 favorite things to do at N.C. State. Given out to incoming students, the deck is meant to encourage pride and involvement on campus.
“I love the deck,” Andy Walsh, junior in political science and incoming student body president, said. “I think students really have enjoyed the decks…[we] have worked a lot on them and [they] are all targeted to get students involved in what makes N.C. State unique, and that is pretty special. [It] has the potential for students to create a lasting bond with their university and the memories they make.”
Walsh currently serves as chair of Student Government’s traditions commission, so making University traditions is especially important to him.
The cards were born when a survey was sent out in 2010, asking students to list their favorite things about the University and the traditions they hold most dear.
Though she admits not all the options are unique to our University, Chandler Thompson, student body president and senior in economics, says the traditions represent student opinion and were taken from the most popular submissions.
“It was difficult to narrow it down to just 54, but I think the top 54 on this list provide a great combination of academic, athletic, community service and just plain fun things to do at N.C. State,” Thompson said.
Thompson worked on the list with Sam Dennis, senior in biology and fellow winner of the 2010 Leader of the Pack award. It was inspired by Easter Kentucky University’s deck of cards with campus specific activities printed on them.
Among the submissions, students will find things like painting the free expression tunnel, run in the Krispy Kreme challenge, participating in Service Raleigh, and participating in Shack-a-Thon.
Roman Ruiz-Esparza, sophomore in computer engineering, says his personal favorite N.C. State tradition would be whispering the wolf ears.
“I’ve taken every single one of my family members there,” Ruiz-Esparza said. “It’s just a fun thing to do and something pretty cool to show people.”
While there are many more exciting traditions, the list is also rampant with experiences not necessarily unique to N.C. State. These include:making Dean’s list, going to the Campus Cinema, voting in Student Government elections and others.
Thompson stressed while these may not be exclusive to campus, they are part of the student experience and were listed in the survey.
“I want everyone to graduate from this University with memorable experiences, and I believe the items on this list are a great starter point for creating those life-long memories,” Thompson said.
