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'A' fresh start for ASU freshmen A view of A Mountain during the 2016 Whitewash the "A" celebrations

Starting one's college journey is a chance for a fresh start, a clean slate. And it's the same for "A" Mountain. On Saturday, freshmen from all of the Valley campuses came to Hayden Butte (aka "A" Mountain) to give the giant, traditionally gold "A" a coat of white paint. Whitewashing the "A" is one of Arizona State University's traditions, and it's a chance for incoming students to put their stamp...

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Sun Devil Life

'A' fresh start for ASU freshmen

Tempe campus
New school year kicks off with a whitewashed A.
One of ASU's favorite traditions, students whitewash the A on Hayden Butte
August 21, 2016

Whitewashing the 'A' is a Sun Devil tradition as the university's monogram becomes a blank slate for the new school year

Starting one's college journey is a chance for a fresh start, a clean slate. And it's the same for "A" Mountain.

On Saturday, freshmen from all of the Valley campuses came to Hayden Butte (aka "A" Mountain) to give the giant, traditionally gold "A" a coat of white paint.

Whitewashing the "A" is one of Arizona State University's traditions, and it's a chance for incoming students to put their stamp, so to speak, on their new home. (The "A" will be returned to its gold hue before the first home football game.)

See the fun below in video and photos.

Volunteers welcome students to the Whitewash the A day Saturday, August 20, 2016

Volunteers welcome students to whitewash the "A" on August 20, 2016.

Robin Kiyutelluk/Arizona State University
Students grab a dixie cup full of white paint

Students grab small cups full of paint as they head up "A" mountain.

Robin Kiyutelluk/Arizona State University
Senior Nicole Evans reminds whitewashers to stay hydrated

Senior Nicole Evans reminds whitewashers to stay hydrated as they're waiting for their chance to paint the "A." Temperatures were in the mid 90s Saturday morning.

Robin Kiyutelluk/Arizona State University
It's a steep walk up A mountain

The climb to the "A" is steep, but first year students juggle water, paint and cell phones without incident.

Robin Kiyutelluk/Arizona State University
Three journalism students whitewash the A

From left, journalism students Alexa Buechler, Juila Bashaw and Morgan Willis do their part to whitewash the "A" Saturday.

Robin Kiyutelluk/Arizona State University
Students flash the ASU pitchforks and snap photos at A mountain

Erica Berlin (left) and Victoria Alanis make the pitchfork sign up against the "A" and snap photos on their cell phones.

Robin Kiyutelluk/Arizona State University
Students flash the ASU pitchforks at Whitewash the A day

Forks up for Erica Fernandez (left) and Maya Foxall after doing their part to whitewash the "A."

Robin Kiyutelluk/Arizona State University

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