Crimson Crew beanies

Several new traditions have recently been created for students and alumni to express their pride in NMSU.

On April 17, University Avenue was filled with entertainment, food, fun activities and carnival rides for the first celebration of Aggie Day.

Two NMSU students – Chad Rabon of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics Council and Rashaad Williams of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. – developed the event to encourage unity between all college organizations and promote collaboration with the community. With the help of the Alumni Association, the City of Las Cruces and numerous volunteers, Aggie Day brought thousands of students and members of the community together for the celebration.

More than 100 student organizations set up booths with activities such as raffles, games, dunking booths, face painting and health testing. Two main stages featured performances from bands, singers, rappers, martial artists and step performers as well as the annual Greek Sing competition.

Although the idea for a university spring celebration is not new, Aggie Day is unique because it included the Las Cruces community.

“Many have said that University Avenue separates NMSU from the community, so we closed it off and opened the barrier between the two,” says Debbie Widger, alumni relations director.

Organizers are already planning for next year’s Aggie Day, which will be held Saturday, April 9, 2005.

Crimson Crew

Aggie Day

Bringing the university and community together was the goal of another new tradition that was established last year. The Crimson Crew, a student organization that promotes NMSU spirit, was established with the help of ASNMSU and the Alumni Association.

The idea originated wiht former ASNMSU President Jake Hill in 2002 as the “A” Team. However, in celebration of the university’s 115th anniversary, former ASNMSU President Erin McSherry began the “Covered in Crimson” campaign to honor the university’s “innovation and excellence in the Las Cruces community and the Southwest” and to further community participation and support.

Twenty-five NMSU clubs ordered the official “Covered in Crimson” 115th anniversary T-shirt to celebrate the university’s legacy. The T-shirts also allowed people to promote their organization or business by printing their personalized logo on the back of the shirt.

During homecoming week, the Crimson Crew also brought back the tradition of wearing beanies. Beanies had been worn in the past by NMSU freshmen during Freshmen Initiation Week. However, the Crimson Crew wanted all students to wear them to promote spirit, unity and revitalize an old tradition.

“It gives people more of a sense of identity with the university,” McSherry says.

The Crimson Crew also decorated parts of campus for home football games, painted faces and taught the fight song at tailgating events.

This year the Athletics Department will team up with the Crimson Crew and the Alumni Association to provide more resources and get more students involved.

New Rings

A new class ring presented on chile ristras

Another new tradition unveiled in February was the official NMSU ring. The ring features the school seal surrounded by the school name, Memorial Tower and the Organ Mountains.

“Although many different rings have been sold by vendors throughout the years, they never captured the overall ideal and uniqueness of NMSU,” says Alumni Director Widger.

“This ring captures the whole college career, more so than other rings that only show the individual organizations students were involved in. It symbolizes pride in the university as a whole.”

The first rings were presented at a special ceremony on a souvenir chile ristra that was the idea of Shari Jones ’80 ’82. Jo Lytle ’83 made the ristras for this year’s ceremony, which was attended by students, family and friends.

“I have been enjoying my ring ever since I received it,” says Jeremiah Johnson ’03, who is now attending graduate school at NMSU. “It is awesome to know that when I come back for homecoming 20 years down the line, there will be students singing the fight song and cheering for the Aggies while wearing the same ring. The ring captures a lot of the history and the flavor of NMSU, and I will continue to wear it proudly as a happy reminder of the time that I spent at NMSU. I hope that I can pass it on to a future Aggie one day.”

Alumni may be able to trade their old rings for the new rings. For information on how to trade or purchase rings, call the Alumni Office at 1-866-678-2586 or send a message to alumni@nmsu.edu