The Mud Tug-of-War is an annual Bobcats Senior Honorary traditional event held during Homecoming week at the UA every year.
“The Mud Tug-of-War’s purpose is to celebrate the tradition of homecoming and to encourage current students and alumni to get involved in the life on the campus at the university, along with everything the university has to offer,” said Tyler Strauss, president of the Bobcats Senior Honorary.
Melinda Burke, the president of the University of Arizona Alumni Association, said this event is a fun way to celebrate homecoming week in anticipation for the other fun-filled weekend events.
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The alumni association recently received a reduction in revenue of $100,000 and had to make cuts to certain programs—one of the programs originally cut was the Mud Tug-of-War, according to Burke.
Burke said that because of the Bobcat Senior Honorary and its determination to keep this event going, the organization decided to raise money in order to pay for the Mud Tug-of-War so that it can still be held this year.
“The UA Alumni Association helped the Bobcats Senior Honorary by putting together a crowd funding site to raise money for the annual Mud Tug-of-War,” Burke said. “So far we’ve raised $8,400 and have 129 donors for this event—this is an outstanding number and we are so proud.”
The event costs around $7,000, so the left over funds will be saved to help fund other events for next years homecoming week, according to Burke.
“The most expensive part of this event is buying filtered mud which has no sticks or rocks in it, so that it is safe for participants to compete in the event,” Strauss said.”The rest of the money goes to the workers who set it all up, the tug-of-war ropes, and renting the spot on the UA mall to use when it is all complete.”
Strauss added that the current Bobcat Senior Honorary members did not want to be the ones to break the 30-year plus tradition of the Mud Tug-of-War. She said the honorary raised the money to continue the event and uphold the important traditional value that it holds it has.
Fabian Cordova, chief financial officer of the alumni association, said that its main goal is to promote heritage and tradition around the UA campus.
Cordova said there is no better way to do so than continuing the practice of traditional events during weeks such as homecoming.
Some students and faculty have questioned why the money raised will not be spent on other important activities.
Cordova said without this huge event, traditions on the UA campus would be broken and that is the last thing anyone wants to have happen.
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“I am so excited to participate in the Mud Tug-of-War this year with my friends,” said Kristie Bennett a nutrition sophomore. “It seems like such a fun event, as well as a great way to get involved on campus. I am so excited for homecoming week this year.”
The Mud Tug-of-War will be held on the UA Mall Thursday Oct. 27, in order to motivate students and alumni for the homecoming events coming up that Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to Strauss.
Cordova said by continuing this traditional event, alumni can come back to their alma mater and participate in something that they know and love, while current students may participate to build new memories with their friends which they will remember for forever.
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