ISU traditions span generations

More than professors, studies, classes or clubs, traditions have a way of defining a university through generations. At Idaho State University, many of them are still developing while others continue to flourish.
“I feel that if all students are aware of traditions, they are something that can connect every student on campus,” said Anjel Zamora, student body vice president. “Matt [Bloxham] and I are really working on university branding and making sure everyone is aware that they’re a Bengal.”
Enduring traditions including March Through the Arch and homecoming activities, like the spirit log hunt, powderpuff and True Bengal, have brought Bengals together for years.
Even if students missed out on the inaugural March Through the Arch their freshman year, plenty of opportunities exist to walk through the Swanson Alumni Arch even after New Student Orientation (NSO).
“I actually didn’t go through the arch when I was a freshman and then when I heard about the tradition, I wanted to do it,” said Zamora. “So I just went with a bunch of friends and took pictures like NSO would.”
“If you want to march through the arch, just go through it. Go with your friends anytime,” said Zamora.
For a more ceremonious Arch experience, consider marching through with graduating seniors in the spring or joining the freshman class each fall.
With the proposed removal of the Bengal statue by Reed Gym, certain traditions and campus monuments may soon be changing. ASISU senators voted Wednesday, Feb. 27, to support the removal and storage of the ISU landmark.
“We did decide that we would encourage [school officials] to remove it and have it be placed in a stored location until a different location would be assigned,” said Zamora.
Though the statue is a well-known ISU figure, Zamora said he doesn’t think its removal will be problematic.
“I don’t think it will have a big effect, especially when we explain that we’re just moving it to store it and then find a place to put it out,” he added.
According to Zamora, weather conditions were beginning to take a toll on the orange and black icon.
“It’s made of paper mache, so every time we have a bad storm or something like that [the university] has to pay to repaint it, so I think that’s one of the goals, to maintain it so then a big windstorm doesn’t blow it over and ruin it,” he said.
This potential removal means some traditions will have to be moved to the newer bronze Bengal on lower campus. One tradition myth known as Ultimate Bengal, Bengal Tamer or Taming the Bengal, has various explanations.
“From what I’ve heard, one version is that you spend the night on the Bengal and sleep there,” said Zamora. “I don’t know if people actually do that. But then I’ve also heard of another where you ride the Bengal with no clothes on.”
“I’d heard Ultimate Bengal was the same as Bengal Tamer on the Reed statue,” said student body president Matt Bloxham.
“I can think as far back as 2002 when I heard about that one, and it just kind of got transferred down [to the bronze statue] as Bengal Tamer. Maybe because this one looks much more fierce,” he said with a laugh.
Zamora pointed out the added danger of security cameras focused on the bronze statue.
“You have to be sneakier,” he said.
Bloxham cautioned students against Taming the Bengal.
“I’m sure the university would press charges,” he said. “Don’t do it unless you’re cool with having some public nudity on your record.”
Bloxham said he hoped students would use the new statue for a different purpose.
“The tiger is a Chinese symbol for luck so when we put it out there we talked about touching the paw, high-fiving the paw on your way to take an exam,” he said. “I noticed for the athletes when they’d come down [to lower campus], on the way out they’d all just touch the Bengal to get some luck for their upcoming game.”
In addition to touching the Bengal statue, Bloxham and Zamora hope to start new traditions in athletics through their Bengal Cheer, as well. The cheer, which has been endorsed by the ISU Cheerleaders, is performed each time the football team scores a first down, or any time someone yells “Bengal!”
“We just started it this year so, as the football games went on, I noticed that more and more people were doing it,” said Zamora.
Bloxham cited White Out Weber, NSO hand painting and Bengal Wednesday as other new traditions, the latter of which he considers his favorite.
“I love seeing students unified wearing orange and black on campus,” he said, adding that those are the only colors he hopes to see on Wednesdays.
“Leave your other colors at home on Wednesday for crying out loud!” he said. “It drives me crazy. I don’t care if you want to be a Boise State football fan on Friday, but on Wednesday…”
Bloxham also encouraged students to start their own traditions.
“I think the best traditions are student-established traditions at any university,” he said. “The administration or even ASISU can try to force traditions but if it’s something that just comes forward as a student-driven tradition it will last longer, it will mean more, more students will get involved with it.”
“If students have some idea of a new tradition, have at it,” Zamora added. “Just make sure it’s safe and okay with the law.”
“Don’t be afraid to show your Bengal pride,” Bloxham said.