The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, November 24, 1998, Image 3
3s schedi |BattaIion • Simpa ? services foi Aggielife Page 3A • Tuesday, November 24, 1998 stem schools imitate A&M traditions ile maintaining unique identity BY MARIUM MOHIUDDIN The Battalion hen stu dents grad uate and ^member their ’ears at Texas A&M wiiversity, they have (AP) — nieii rt's decision:: f’s anti-sodcl many traditions to Mt system,;* T 7 T wsMmMok hack upon — o reason \Vi,B ^ ieorgiaforfcj^g Dance, receiving ieir Aggie rings, Bon- ire. Silver Taps, Muster, tiui Midnight Yell Prac- ilTaikljle are among the expe- oUl ' ei "ie/ices defining A&M. McCabe, a lessor at Sot kV. “State a hey look arc r states hav •e not talkii tate with a :ate’s sodom fowever, there are other ■Sfsmiools which make up the ''“ihe’SifcM System, each pos- man whov *po oi cj mizing 96. each its own identity ind traditions. Texas A&M University-Kingsville Texas A&M University-Kingsville joined the A&M System in 1992 and was origi nally established in 1925 as Texas A&I Uni versity. Traditions from A&I carried over after it became A&M - Kingsville. Kris Fernandez, president of the Stu dent Government Association at Kingsville and a senior biology major, said many of the school’s traditions stem from specific instances. “In 1925, the school captured two javeli- nas (wild pigs), and in 1929, [one of the wild pigs] attacked Robert Cousins, the president of the university,” she said. “The university was going to get rid of it and find another mascot, but the Cousins [family] said it showed the fighting spirit of the school.” The Javelina, named Porky, goes around the field when the football team makes a touchdown. In 1925, the school colors were es tablished as blue and gold.TWenty years after the school was established, the stu dent government chose “Jalisco” as the fight song. Fernandez said since 1931, the activ ities of homecoming have been the biggest tradition. “We have a bonfire, a parade and a de partment decoration contest,” she said. “Each homecoming has a theme, and for the past couple of years, it has been ‘Haunted Halloween.’ We have a barbecue before bonfire, which is for all the stu dents, alumni, faculty, staff and parents.” There is a homecoming court com prised of a king and queen; a prince and princess; and a duke and duchess. The court is elected by the student body. Fernandez said when it comes to foot ball games, there are many traditions. “Since 1956, the ROTC cadets fired a canon after each touchdown,” she said. “However, the expense of getting a canon has made us stop.” The Texas flag, the United States flag and flags of other organization's are dis played at games. Students also run around the field with the A&M-Kingsville flag. Fernandez said a new tradition at the football games deals with a toilet seat. “It has been around since I have start- ies until homecoming,” she said. “There was also a bell the freshman class would ring after each game that we won, but now it is clapless. “Lantana is the university flower, and for 40 years there was a celebration held. So, ed going to school,” she said. “A spirit guy wears a toilet seat and lid that is painted blue and gold with ‘Go Hogs’ written on it. He runs around the track and gets the crowd really pumped up.” Fernandez said many of the traditions have faded away, but the university is try ing to bring them back. “A tradition we had a long time ago was that the freshman class had to wear bean- we are going to bring this back by having a Lantana dance. Starting in February, we are going to have one A&M - Kingsville ring. We are working on presenting the rings to seniors at homecoming and having them walk to the bonfire together. ” Prairie View A&M Prairie View, A&M’s sister school, was founded at the same time as A&M — March 1876, but at the time, it was estab lished under the Jim Crow “separate-but- equal” law. In its first year, the school had an enrollment of eight students. Brian Dickens, director of student ac tivities at Prairie View, said the universi ties are both under the System but are completely different. “Each university is unique,” he said. “We have our own mascot, traditions, and heritage. “Among our traditions are commence ment, Honor Week, Annual Convocation, homecoming game, Open House, Founder’s Day and Pig Skin Review, which is a homecoming concert.” Dickens said Honor’s Week highlights the honor roll and showcases the students in an honor’s convocation. Founder’s Day is a historical event at which students take the time to reflect upon the past and look forward to the future The school colors are royal and gold, and the alma matter is “Dear Prairie View. ” Dickens said students point toward the heavens when saying the alma matter, because the heavens are the highest rank. The fight* song is “Cheer for Prairie View,” which is sung after each touch down, and the spirit song is “Something Inside So Strong. ” The newspaper is the Prairie View Pan thers and the yearbook is the Pantherland. Dickens said the university’s nickname is “da’ hill” because it sits at the highest point in Prairie View, and everything else slopes down from the school. Dickens said the school motto is the one tradition held close to each student’s heart. “Our motto is ‘Prairie View Produces Productive People,”’ he said. “This is spe cial to students because Prairie View is the plight of minorities. 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