ASU Magazine highlights Sun Devil traditions, families in March issue

The March 2012 edition of ASU Magazine features a cover story on the development of ASU’s most cherished traditions and an article profiling three families who have produced multiple generations of proud Sun Devil alumni.

The cover story on ASU traditions, “Maroon & Gold Memories,” discusses the importance of traditions in shaping the university’s identity as an institution, illustrates the way in which traditions connect graduates to the university, and chronicles the ways in which ASU’s traditions have grown and changed. Some Sun Devil traditions covered in the story include:

• whitewashing the letter A on Hayden/Tempe Butte
• the university’s mascot, Sparky the Sun Devil
• the ASU-UofA sports rivalry
• Homecoming celebrations over the years

The second feature article, “Keeping It in the Family,” profiles three families whose members surely have maroon and gold running through their veins: the Perrys, the Garcias, and the Westervelts. Interviews with family members from several generations of alumni trace the evolution of each family’s connection with ASU, and reveal what the university has come to symbolize for them.

In addition to these two articles, the March edition includes a sports story on “Murphy’s Girls,” a group of older female alums who gather yearly to remember a legendary teacher and mentor; an arts story showcasing public-art treasures on the Tempe campus that are the legacy of the New Deal from the Great Depression of the 1930s; updates related to ASU’s sports teams; news and photos from alumni chapters across the country; and a full complement of alumni-focused news reports in the Class Notes section.

ASU Magazine is distributed to readers who are graduates or supporters of Arizona State University, and may be accessed online at http://asumagazine.com.