Remember The Brick tradition book you received at orientation as a freshman? Starting at this year’s orientation, the incoming freshmen will instead download an app that will replace the paper Brick. 

Students will be able to upload pictures and videos into The Brick app to prove NC State traditions were completed. The app will include other features like notifying students of Tradition landmarks around campus like the Bell Tower and Free Expression Tunnel. 

“So say you are within 100 feet of the Belltower and have the notifications enabled, then the app will send you a notification essentially saying, ‘Hey, complete the Legend in Stone Tradition today’ and will provide a description of the tradition and how to complete it in the app,” said Adam Armstrong, a senior studying mechanical engineering and co-director of Traditions.

The app will also add upcoming events, like Homecoming or Ram Roast, directly to a personal calendar. The Traditions Department is also looking to include live active boards to see the most popular traditions that are completed, unlocking different levels so that the more traditions you complete, the more access you gain to exclusive features of the app. 

“The collective decision to transition The Brick from a paper version to app form was to increase participation in the Tradition Keeper Program through a more convenient medium and to make Traditions an everyday part of an NC State student’s journey around campus and throughout their undergraduate experience,” Armstrong said.

However, some students are scared that the electronic version of The Brick takes away from its memorability. 

“You won’t be able to look back 50 years from now and see all of the memories you made at NC State with the app,” said Sabrina Baker, a sophomore studying fashion textile management and a member of Student Government. “Even two years after you graduate, you’re bound to delete it. The whole purpose of The Brick is to be a keepsake of your memories at State.” 

The NC State Alumni Association and Student Government wanted to increase school spirit and affinity toward NC State and hence created The Brick in 2008.

“Over the years we have identified the need to keep up with the technology curve, so this year one of the major goals of the Traditions Department was to implement a mobile Brick app that students can conveniently be able to complete traditions within the app via photos or videos,” Armstrong said.