UNM has a long tradition of events that every freshman should take advantage of during the school year.
These events range from burning a 12-foot Aggie to an all day concert at Johnson Field.
Here are just a few of the annual events that UNM holds free of charge for students.
Red Rally
One of the biggest school-wide events of the semester happens at Johnson Field on the Thursday before the annual UNM-New Mexico State football game.
The Lobos and Aggies have played each other over 100 times in the Rio Grande Rivalry with UNM holding a 70-31-5 record against NMSU.
At the rally a 12-foot tall Aggie is burned down in front of around 1,500 students. The football team, marching band and spirit squad are all in attendance for the event.
Sports Illustrated rated Red Rally No. 55 in its list of “102 Things You Have To Do Before You Graduate.”
Hanging of the Greens
One of the oldest student traditions at UNM, the Hanging of the Greens, involves students placing hundreds of luminaries across the University to light the campus.
The UNM Mortar Board Senior Honor Society is in charge of the annual event and supplies the necessary materials to make the luminaries.
The event usually begins outside of the UNM Bookstore with free drinks and cookies ready for participants. After meeting at the bookstore, the partakers then start caroling and make a stop at the University House where students present the official wreath to President Robert Frank.
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It wraps up at Hodgin Hall for the President’s reception and the lighting of the “U”.
In 1930, Lena C. Clauve, a former UNM student, began the tradition with other students by gathering greenery, which they used to decorate the Student Union Building.
Fiestas
The last event incoming freshmen shouldn’t miss is Fiestas, an all-day concert held at Johnson Field.
ASUNM holds the event every year to celebrate the home stretch of the semester and to give students a break from the daily grind.
There are multiple stages for bands and thousands of attendees. The type of music ranges from rock, to electronic and rap.
Thomas Romero-Salas is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @ThomasRomeroS.
