Painting the ‘N’ a UNR campus tradition

By: Ase Carlson

Tuesday, September 15, 2009 - 9:51 AM

Student government officials hope for an increased turnout Saturday for the annual painting of the “N.” The event will begin at 10 a.m. at the Joe Crowley Student Union.

Students are encouraged to wear clothing that can get paint-stained. Four to five vans, depending on necessity, will transport students to Rancho San Rafael Park and from there students will hike to the top of the mountain. White paint and mops will be provided by the

athletic department, Director of Flipside Programming Casey Stiteler said.

The “N” is painted white but the rocks become faded, or weathered and are often painted over by student clubs each year.

Re-painting the rocks not only makes the “N” brighter but is an activity that Associ- ated Students of the University of Neavda President Eli Reilly said he sees as crucial to the feelings of pride and camara- derie prior to the season’s first home football game against

Missouri on Sept. 26. “I see this as part of my mis-

sion to encourage support and get fired up for the game and for our school, prior to Homecom- ing,” Reilly said.

This social activity is part of Reilly’s initiative to increase pride and tradition on campus. This is the first year that the “N” will be painted before the first home game, Reilly said.

“We want this to be a source of pride. When visiting teams come into town, they know where they are,” Stiteler said.

Last year, about 60 students

participated, including many student-athletes from the soccer, volleyball, swimming and tennis teams, Stiteler said. This year, Stiteler wants to get more athletes involved as well as more of the general student body.

This year, Flipside hopes to get a bigger turnout. Flipside is actively promoting the event through posters, e-mail lists,Facebook and on-campus pro- motion the days leading up to the event, Stiteler said.

“I felt very much a part of the student body and felt like I supported our team, and the school, in my own way,” said Matt Decareful, a 2009 alum who at- tended the event last year.

Ase Carlson can be reached at news@nevadasagebrush.com.