On Thursday, Nov. 9, Southern Utah University’s Student Alumni Association hosted Mario Kart With the Greats. The event was hosted in the Great Hall of the R. Haze Hunter Conference Center, and encouraged students to complete one of SUU’s 50 traditions: taking a picture with one of the portraits within.
SAA’s Tradition Keeper initiative is a program aimed at helping students experience the many traditions around SUU and Cedar City. Students are given a scorecard with all 50 traditions to keep track of the ones they’ve completed. There are prizes that can be earned along the way, but the goal is to complete all of the traditions before graduation so they may wear a Tradition-Keeper stole at the commencement ceremony.
As the name implies, Mario Kart was the event’s main attraction. TVs and consoles were set up all around the room to play Mario Kart on, and anyone could join if they desired. Members of the SAA were dressed up in Mario costumes to keep with the theme.
In the center of the room were tables with painting supplies. Students were given free rein to paint what they desired while they snacked on popcorn and other treats provided by the SAA.
“My favorite part of the event was being able to combine two groups of people; people who liked to game and people who liked to paint, which brought a range of different people,” said Mia Vasquez, the marketing and involvement chair for SAA.
SAA members were present with their “tradition completed” boards, ready to photograph anyone who decided to complete the tradition, and many succeeded in doing so between games.“[The event] allows people who attend the event to get to learn about the amazing people who have made SUU, SUU,” says Vasquez.
The SAA hosts many events like Thursday’s to help people keep SUU traditions while creating a lighthearted environment. To learn more about SUU’s traditions and keep up to date with tradition events, check out the Tradition Keeper webpage.
Author: Tallon Taylor
Editor: Heather Turner
Photos by Margaux Feret
life@suunews.net
