Sindy Huang
Jenay Brown, a first year studying engineering first year, and Dejha Nixon, also a first year studying engineering first year, study outside of their tent at Campout on Miller Fields on Friday, October 20, 2017.
Campout, an event hosted by Student Government, is an annual overnight event promoting the basketball season and traditions on campus, promising fun activities and better chances for students to get seats at popular basketball games.
Students check in at 5 p.m. on Friday night on Miller Fields, set up tents with their friends or student organizations and participate in events throughout the night.
The tradition began in the 1980s, when students would line up early to get tickets to basketball games. Abby Verchick, a fourth-year studying human biology and the Student Government traditions director, described the event’s origins.
“Students would line up in front of Reynolds Coliseum to get their basketball tickets from the windows, because obviously they didn’t have the technology we do today,” Verchick said. “If a big game was coming up, like UNC or Duke, one of our big rivals, they would wait in line early in the morning.”
The tradition began when students would bring items to make the overnight stay more fun.
“Basically, students started bringing mattresses and coolers and were camping all around Reynolds and by the railroad tracks,” Verchick said. “It started in the [‘80s] and then kind of took off from there just because people were staying out overnight.”
Verchick explained that, today, students participate in Campout both to show their support for the student organizations in which they participate and to build community within NC State’s campus.
“Our student organizations and other campus partners have worked really hard on their events and definitely want to showcase what they’ve been working on to students,” Verchick said.
The tradition has changed quite a bit since the 1980s. It’s more structured now, but the ultimate goal of getting seats at basketball games is still central. The event now gives students six loyalty points for use in ticket requests.
There are a variety of events planned, according to Aidan Mangan, a second-year studying statistics and math education and the vice president of community affairs for the Inter-Residence Council.
“We enlist the Hall Councils and Area Councils into putting on programs and events at Campout,” Mangan said. “The number we’re going to have is 10 Hall Councils, so there will be about seven events going on because some are collaborating. Tess [Wiegmann] and I, who is my VP of media and marketing, we’re in charge of gathering everybody and making sure everybody has what they need, being there the day of to set up, break stuff down, things like that.”
Mangan also talked about the different events Hall Councils throughout campus will be putting on during Campout, such as movies, karaoke and talent shows.
Verchick said she is most excited about the Primetime with the Pack event, which is the first time fans can get a look at the 2018-19 NC State basketball teams.
“I love seeing how our basketball team is going to be this year, introducing all the new players, seeing how the coaches are going to be,” Verchick said. “I really think this is their first time that they get to make an impression on the student body and get them to come out to basketball games.”
Because Primetime with the Pack is a separate event, it requires a separate registration. More information can be found here.
According to Verchick, to get the six loyalty points, students need to get four total swipes with student ID cards.
“There’s going to be four swipes,” Verchick said. “A check-in swipe, a swipe when you come back on Miller Fields after Primetime with the Pack, a swipe when you come back after the late-night breakfast and then a check-out swipe. You have to get all four swipes to be eligible to get your six loyalty points. That’s how we track your student ID.”
Mangan emphasized how Campout can be a great community building event for students and organizations.
“I think it’s a great community building place; a lot of friendships are made,” Mangan said. “It’s a fun time, you’re in the middle of all your classes, you know, people are busy. It’s a nice time just to go and blow off some steam.”
Students can rent tents from Outdoor Adventures in Wellness and Recreation. Students interested in Campout can sign up online. Registration closes on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at noon.