Getting back in the spirit of Vandal Pride is something the University of Idaho emphasizes at the beginning of every academic year. This year, UI hosted it’s first Vandal Spirit Friday last week at the Eastside Marketplace.Vandal coaches and athletes, students, alumni and community members celebrated Vandal spirit with live music, food and free entertainment.
Though the celebration won’t be quite as big in the coming weeks, Vandal Spirit Fridays is a campus-wide weekly show of Vandal Pride. Students, staff, faculty, alumni and anyone else who considers themselves a Vandal are encouraged to show it, according to Patty Carscallen, VandalStore marketing manager.
“Vandal Spirit Friday is really about being a vandal and how unique being a vandal is an opportunity to show your vandal pride every Friday,” Carscallen said.
The tradition, which started with former UI president M. Duane Nellis, is a way to encourage team and university spirit, she said.
“Wear your vandal gear, vandal colors or whatever that might look like for you,” Carscallen said.
In addition to being a community-building event, Vandal Spirit Fridays also has different campus organizations that particpate, offering students free food or special deals.
“For the VandalStore, we have a special deal every Friday for Vandal Spirit Friday,” Carscallen said. “It’s like a deal of the day.”
According to the Vandal Spirit Friday page on the UI website, campus dining offers students free cookies at any Vandal Dining locations.
“Vandal Spirit Fridays is for all Vandals. Anybody that calls themselves a Vandal,” Carscallen said.
Kaitlin Moroney can be reached at [email protected]