LOGAN— The “Block ‘A'” monument, where students traditionally gather for True Aggie Night, sits in a square on the Utah State University campus. It looks like it will be lonely this school year.
In a non-COVID-19 world, the Block A monument’s job is to serve as a platform for smooching. It’s a tradition that dates back 106 years (or 105 depending on who you ask.) Students climb (or now, climb a ramp) to the top of the Block A and kiss, at midnight, on certain designated nights of the year. That is the way to become a “True Aggie.”
There are some variations of the process. This year, however, masks and safety precautions are standing in the way of tradition.
“There is so much ambiguity. Right now, we don’t have any solid plans for a True Aggie night this year,” says Nate Lundberg, an Alumni engagement officer at USU that oversees the True Aggie Night tradition.
“We’re hoping we can come up with something,” Lundberg says keeping everyone safe is the number one goal. “If we don’t have a True Aggie Night, then we’ll just put a little pause on the tradition and then we’ll continue it [when we can.]”
Lundberg says a group of around 2 thousand showed up last year at one of the True Aggie Nights, usually held on Homecoming Weekend or one of the nights of a full moon. Many were kissing, lots were watching.
Lundberg laughs when asked if people might show up on a full moon night at the Block A anyway. “Everyone has a mind of their own. I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear about people doing. You can count on us not encouraging it… but we can’t stop people from doing their own thing.”
Not everyone participates in True Aggie Night. “Many people don’t care to stay up that late.” But, in the same breath, Lundberg says you can correct this.
Alums visit frequently to kiss on Block A if they missed out when they were in school. “If they don’t get the opportunity to do it they can always come back.” Depending on how long the pandemic lasts, that might be exactly what some students will have to do.
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