Starting at 11 a.m. every day this week, students have the opportunity to get free food from sponsored restaurants if they wear red in support of the University during Homecoming.
Wear Red, Get Fed is a tradition started by the Alumni Association, who plans all of Homecoming, and many students look forward to the feast on the Brickyard.
“Wear Red, Get Fed is a much looked forward to tradition by the students. Getting free food is a great incentive to wear red, and seeing all the students in red makes me feel like the student population is united in the tradition,” Rachel Bodsford, a junior in interpersonal communication, said.
According to Jessica Thurston, a junior in business and administration and service and spirit chair of Homecoming, said everyone loves Wear Red, Get Fed and the Homecoming event is always successful.
“Students look forward to this every year. They enjoy talking about what kind of food will be provided and get excited for the free meal,” she said, “The event usually only lasts for one to two hours and is especially busy when classes let out.”
She also said this year the standards of exactly which “red” is acceptable have increased.
Last year, students just jumped in line with burgundy or garnet on in hopes of getting fed, but this year the motto is “A Hand Size of Red, Gets N.C. State fed.” This means that as long as you have some sort of Wolfpack red on, that is at least the size of a hand, then you will receive food from the designated restaurant that day.
According to Thurston, burgundy, garnet and pink do not count, but any University memorabilia does. For instance, if you have on a black shirt that has “Wolfpack” written across the front, then you will get fed.
Thurston said that they will essentially feed anyone who is showing an effort to support the University during Homecoming.
If students are sporting the right kind of red, then they also have the option of getting their Student I.D. scanned for an extra loyalty point, essentially increasing their odds for getting tickets to big games.
Students love the tradition and think it’s a fun way to support the University during Homecoming, but feel that food for all eating habits should be provided.
Meredith Spence, a junior in zoology, said that she sported red in hopes of getting some free food only to find a non-vegetarian option from Wing Zone.
“I think that it’s a great idea but there should be vegetarian options daily so that I, and other vegetarians, can participate in this Homecoming tradition,” Spence said.
However, those students who enjoy all kinds of food said the food was awesome.
“I think it’s wonderful that we get free food just for wearing red,” Justin James, a junior in elementary education, said.
Taylor Reagan, also a junior in elementary education, said she participates because she enjoys supporting the University.
“The Wear Red, Get Fed incentive makes me want to participate and wear red to show my support for the University,” Reagan said.
