Blue is the new red

Rouge hats, crimson jerseys and scarlet sweatpants are seen everywhere on campus. They're sported by students, athletes, parents and alumni. They can be purchased downtown or in the Zag Shop. Cardinal is the color of the geraniums that adorn our gardens. That same shade outlines Gonzaga logos and the face of Spike. With all of this emphasis on red you'd think it was one of our school colors.

GSBA President Tyler Hobbs would tell you otherwise.

"Traditionally, Gonzaga's school colors are blue and white," Hobbs said. "As athletics became popular at the university, red began to be used as an accent color – it creates such a great visual." And the trend built from there.

This year, orientation supervisors, known as the O-Core, teamed up with Hobbs to start a new vogue for freshmen – blue creed shirts. While they seem to add a hue of intrigue to Gonzaga newcomers, some upperclassmen are slightly disgruntled.

However, junior Lauren Bergam took everything in stride. "The history behind Gonzaga's colors is interesting and the shirts provide an outlet for us to learn," Bergam said. Hobbs hopes the change is questioned and students learn about the deep roots and origins of the school from those inquiries. 

Since it's inception, the creed shirt has been red – until now. Other changes have been made as well.

"We put a lot of time and thought into the water bottles this year," Hobbs said. "The metal and plastic ones were no good so we tried a glass bottle."

With glass as one of the most abundant resources our planet offers, Hobbs believes these bottles are eco-friendly and will be more durable for students.

Not only is orientation evolving, but Hobbs has teamed up with the Residence Hall Association this fall to organize events such as Gonzagapalooza, an event formerly known as Madonnastock. Students can expect smaller changes as well such as discussions on sexual health.

"I'm under the impression that there are no documented policies for the Health Center pertaining to safe sex and birth control recommendations," Hobbs said. "This year we would like to educate students holistically on these matters."

Pedestrian safety is another item of high importance on Hobbs' checklist. He wants to install more safety lights around campus by the end of the semester. The corner of DeSmet and Hamilton is a definite target, according to Hobbs. 

Hobbs hopes that students will embrace the changes being made on campus. "I hope it will open doors to more ideas," he said. "More groups and organizations will see what we're doing and start to chime in."