2008 Woodie Awards
Losing the 'cruise'
Protest-turned-tradition loses university sponsorship
Kelsey Fitzgibbon
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: News
Most upper classmen are familiar with the campus tradition "Cruise the Island," however, this year the freshman class was unable to participate in the event as it lost university sponsorship.
According to Micael Butler, former Student Programming Association President, Cruise the Island originated in 1984 after the completion of the Administration Building. Before the building was constructed, the alumni island ran through campus to Washington Street. When the building blocked access to Washington Street, administrators proposed that all vehicle traffic be prohibited in the island. In protest, Tarleton students drove circles around the island, and coined the phrase "cruise it, or lose it."
Since the first protest, Cruise the Island became an annual university-sponsored event, hosted by the SPA. It allowed campus organizations an opportunity to meet and recruit incoming freshmen and new students. Traditionally, each organization would decorate a truck or trailer and circle the island, while students interested in joining that organization would ride along and meet current members.
According to Director of Student Activities Donna Strohmeyer, the meet-and-greet activity has recently become too dangerous to continue as a university-sponsored event. She said that despite attempts to make Cruise the Island safer, many students failed to comply, often jumping in and out of moving vehicles.
Strohmeyer said she has personally made several trips to the emergency room after students obtained minor injuries from past cruise experiences. Tarleton administration said this was too much of a liability, opting to end university sponsorship before injuries grew worse.
"I love it. It's lots of fun," said Strohmeyer. "But we've got to make sure that the activities that we host are safe activities."
Although the university decided against hosting the event, some Tarleton students attempted to keep the tradition going this year. Butler said that on Aug. 25, at 9:15 p.m. a small group of trucks met and began to cruise the island. Butler said most of the students attending sat on the wall in front of the cannon while others circled in their vehicles.
"I was glad to see that Tarleton students weren't willing to let tradition die," said attendant Micah Moore.
The event was cut short when sophomore Ben Barton's truck was stopped by campus police. According to students in attendance, Sergeant Jeff Alexander told attendants that Cruise the Island had been cancelled and therefore students should not be circling the streets or sitting on the wall. Barton said that at the time, he was complying with traffic laws, keeping the music in his vehicle turned low and making sure that every passenger was seated.
"When I was a freshman that was a good way to meet people," said Barton. "We were just out there trying to meet new freshmen."
Alexander was contacted about the event but was unable to comment any further.
For more information about Tarleton traditions visit http://www.tarleton.edu/~stuserv/studentpublications/traditions/Traditions.htm.
According to Micael Butler, former Student Programming Association President, Cruise the Island originated in 1984 after the completion of the Administration Building. Before the building was constructed, the alumni island ran through campus to Washington Street. When the building blocked access to Washington Street, administrators proposed that all vehicle traffic be prohibited in the island. In protest, Tarleton students drove circles around the island, and coined the phrase "cruise it, or lose it."
Since the first protest, Cruise the Island became an annual university-sponsored event, hosted by the SPA. It allowed campus organizations an opportunity to meet and recruit incoming freshmen and new students. Traditionally, each organization would decorate a truck or trailer and circle the island, while students interested in joining that organization would ride along and meet current members.
According to Director of Student Activities Donna Strohmeyer, the meet-and-greet activity has recently become too dangerous to continue as a university-sponsored event. She said that despite attempts to make Cruise the Island safer, many students failed to comply, often jumping in and out of moving vehicles.
Strohmeyer said she has personally made several trips to the emergency room after students obtained minor injuries from past cruise experiences. Tarleton administration said this was too much of a liability, opting to end university sponsorship before injuries grew worse.
"I love it. It's lots of fun," said Strohmeyer. "But we've got to make sure that the activities that we host are safe activities."
Although the university decided against hosting the event, some Tarleton students attempted to keep the tradition going this year. Butler said that on Aug. 25, at 9:15 p.m. a small group of trucks met and began to cruise the island. Butler said most of the students attending sat on the wall in front of the cannon while others circled in their vehicles.
"I was glad to see that Tarleton students weren't willing to let tradition die," said attendant Micah Moore.
The event was cut short when sophomore Ben Barton's truck was stopped by campus police. According to students in attendance, Sergeant Jeff Alexander told attendants that Cruise the Island had been cancelled and therefore students should not be circling the streets or sitting on the wall. Barton said that at the time, he was complying with traffic laws, keeping the music in his vehicle turned low and making sure that every passenger was seated.
"When I was a freshman that was a good way to meet people," said Barton. "We were just out there trying to meet new freshmen."
Alexander was contacted about the event but was unable to comment any further.
For more information about Tarleton traditions visit http://www.tarleton.edu/~stuserv/studentpublications/traditions/Traditions.htm.
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