Traditions are great. They let you know how things are going to happen, give you something to look forward to (or at least what to expect) and keep things consistent.
Traditions allow friends, family and even communities to reminisce on past moments of happiness in hopes of more opportunities for present and future togetherness and joyful times.
A few of my personal favorite traditions include: screaming so loud I break a window every time I see my best friend back at school for the first time, surviving only on Diet Coke and Fruit Roll-Ups whenever my roommate and I have a big paper due and consistently walking out of every Metro station in the exact opposite direction of where I need to go. All of these traditions complement my daily existence and supplement my happiness.
We have a few traditions at the university that rock my metaphorical socks as well: always closing the dining halls precisely when it seems most students finally have time to eat, perpetually running out of housing and at least one bar closing every semester.
But spring semester, the campus was abuzz with talk of another, older tradition: transforming Byrd Stadium into Byrd Beach. “Did you know that back in the 1980s, students could just hang out in the stands when it got warm,” said the well-informed student to her wide-eyed companions. “Everyone did it. Even professors.”
Of course, such rotten tales could not be true — nothing this fantastic could ever happen at the university where students are forced to live on Diet Cokes and Fruit Roll-Ups and are never educated on the proper way to exit Metro stations.
But suddenly, the magic was real, and a venerated and wonderful tradition returned. Indeed, during the spring semester we finally brought back a tradition that actually helps students. Instead of a place just for sporting events, concerts and late-night intrusions (a crucial item that should be on every College Park bucket list), the stadium was opened for students to hang out and sunbathe. For a single, fleeting day, people were able to spend a carefree afternoon lounging in the sun with friends.
But nearly as soon as it began, the magic was gone. After a few short hours, Byrd Beach was once again Byrd Stadium, and the tradition was sent back into hibernation.
Much is lost as things change with time, but much is gained as well. The Food and Drug Administration has instituted strict sunscreen standards, people finally know smoking is extremely unhealthy and Oprah’s show is finally off the air. But some things should remain the same, and some traditions are even better when renewed, as Byrd Beach was this glorious April.
So here’s to change when it’s warranted, but tradition when it’s called for: best friend reunions, finals week nutritional standards and, most of all, many more sunny days spent in our beloved stadium’s stands — I promise it’s a nice place to hang out, even when you’re not sliding under the gate at 2 o’clock in the morning to do it.
Laura Frost is a junior government and politics and journalism major. She can be reached at frost@umdbk.com.
