Since NC State was founded in 1887, there have been many different traditions started by both students and faculty that have served as a sign of identity for the institution. One of the most important aspects of any university’s culture are its traditions, and NC State is no exception with its abundance of heritages both current students and alumni love.
These traditions can range from a variety of different spectrums of campus life. It can be singing songs at sporting events, on-campus gatherings or handing down beliefs. One of the most infamous traditions is avoiding the seal in Talley Student Union, because of the popular superstition suggesting that stepping on the seal prevents the student from graduating on time.
Ethan Hoots, a third-year studying political science, expressed his appreciation for some of these traditions.
“My favorite NC State traditions are the alma mater after the football games and the Moonlight Howl and Run,” Hoots said.
There are certain traditions that students enjoy more than others, and some have changed over time with regard to how that tradition is presented. The singing of the NC State alma mater song at the end of the football and basketball games has stuck throughout the decades.
Another fun tradition students enjoy is the Moonlight Howl and Run, a 1.3 mile race around campus that starts at the Memorial Bell Tower and ends at Stafford Commons. The race ends with free snacks and appearances from Mr. and Ms. Wuf. This event always takes place at the beginning of the fall semester and is a great opportunity for new students to meet people.
A big game day tradition that NC State students and alumni hold dear is the singing of the national anthem before every sporting event. Usually students will yell the word “red” when it gets to that part in the song and yell “home of the Wolfpack” at the end.
Jeremy Fernandez, third-year studying computer science shared his thoughts on his favorite traditions and his feelings with regards to the national anthem.
“I definitely enjoy it when we’re singing the national anthem and we yell the rockets “red” and we go “home of the Wolfpack,” Fernandez said. “Honestly all the pregame traditions are fun.”
An action students appreciate and participate in, but is technically not endorsed by school standards, is collecting bricks from the ground all over campus. While the staff do not encourage students to take physical pieces of the University, many still do it to give them a souvenir of their time at the University.
“That’s a fun one that I know I know it probably frowned upon by campus faculty and staff, but it’s always a good time,” Fernandez said.
Traditions are important for current students, but also for alumni. Alumni may tend to find their favorite traditions being centered around athletics because NC State sports are accessible to anyone.
Laura Aspland, an NC State alumni, expressed her love and appreciation for the Walk of Champions.
“One of my favorite sports-related activities is the Walk of Champions before the football game, when the players get off the bus and head to the Murphy Center and into Carter-Finley,” Aspland said. “It just is a really cool way to incorporate the fans and get that dopamine hit of ‘game day football’ that you’re going to be watching in a couple hours.”
While alumni might think of specific events as big traditions, they also look back on their time on campus and think about the little moments and small everyday traditions in campus life they loved, like getting Howling Cow Ice Cream or making new friends.
“That first week of school every year was just another way of feeling a refreshing moment,” Aspland said. “The maze of getting to know where your classes are, walking by the wolf ears and telling your friends ‘hi’ from 50 yards away, to getting Howling Cow ice cream. Some of those little things that you take for granted are fun traditions for me and things that I really enjoyed as a student.”
