The Mud Tug is a one of a kind event. Hosted by Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, it is without a doubt one of the most popular events on campus, held annually behind Grace Watson Hall (GWH, 25). Over a thousand students usually show up every year to play in a 10-on-10 tug of war tournament. Losers fall in the mud, and winners advance to the next round, and spectators often get dumped in a muddy “play pit”. There’s up-tempo music, free red bull, hamburgers and hotdogs, and lots of good old-fashioned fun.
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| An RIT student puts forth a spirited effort in an attempt to help his team win a round of tugging. |
| Neal Danis |
Held on September 24, the 2011 Mud Tug was well attended. In the 15 minutes before tugging commenced, it was a packed scene. Most people were in groups of 10, waiting in line to sign up for their part in the event. Others were spectators, there to root for their friends or fellow classmates. I had wondered how many people had shown up. A thousand? It was certainly a large crowd. After a short wait, I got in and the tugging began.
While observing the multiple tugs of war that were going on, I recalled an email that was sent to the RIT student body stating that there was a special team in this year’s event. The “dream team” included RIT President Dr. William Destler, Student Government President Greg Pollock, Vice President of SG Phil Amsler among others. Dr. Destler’s team lost in their first two tugs, but Destler was greeted with warm (and muddy) hugs following the loss. I met up with him following this messy gesture, and asked him what he felt about the event. “It gets better every year,” Destler said. “More teams than ever. Great crowd, a lot of fun. I’m happy.” His wife, Dr. Rebecca L. Johnson, was there as well. “We didn’t want to discourage them by winning,” she added jokingly.
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| An RIT student strains to help his team try to pull the opposing team into the mud pit. |
| Neal Danis |
Midway through the event, I also caught up with the team that finished off Destler’s team, named Chuck’s Angels. They consisted of eleven members, including fourth year Game Design and Development major Amelia Province, who turned 21 the next day. When asked what they were going to do to celebrate if they won, they all screamed in unison: “Karaoke night!” The team would fail to claim their victory shortly after.
Toward the end of the event, I was able to speak with the president of ZTA, Sara Christensen, a fourth year Philosophy and Math major, to ask her what separated this year’s Mud Tug from previous years’. “The biggest change this year has been the location,” Christensen says. “It was on the lower field [behind Gracie’s], now it’s on the upper field so we had to remap everything.” She also explained that in this, the event’s 16th year, the registration and spectator fees would go to support the Hillside Family of Agencies, a local organization that provides a number of youth and family services and scholarships to families in need. With over 2,00 people in attendance this year, Mud Tug raked in over $10,8000.
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| Members of the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority jubilantly celebrate a victorious round at Mud Tug 2011. |
| Neal Danis |
At the end, three finals teams remained: Men’s Rugby (male division) Basketball2 (women’s division) and Tuggernaughts (Co-ed division). As a prize, each member of the winning teams received tickets to the next CAB major event, according to a ZTA representative.
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