On Wednesdays, we wear orange

The UTRGV Student Affairs’ “Orange Wednesday” campaign, encourages students to wear orange every Wednesday until the end of the Spring semester.

Juan Pablo Calderon, director of Student Affairs Communication and Assessment, said this year will be the fourth edition of “Orange Wednesday.”

“The past three campaigns were oriented primarily to Student Affairs staff,” Calderon said. “… The main purpose of the campaign is to instill students, or to encourage students, to wear orange on Wednesday.”

He said students, who want to participate, can bring anything orange, such as shirts, tennis shoes, socks, ties, hats and caps, among others.

“It’s a way to demonstrate that you are part of UTRGV and that you’re proud of being part of this community,” Calderon said.

He added there are six reasons for the foundations of this campaign: empowering the students’ sense of belonging and visibility, encouraging student active engagement, fostering pride and sense of community, boosting school spirit, creating a tradition and enhancing campus pride.

The plan will have three campaigns a year, one for each term: Spring, Summer and Fall semesters.

“This specific campaign will run from today till the end of classes, in May,” Calderon said.

Fidel Lastra Santiago, an informatics graduate student, said he did not hear about the “Orange Wednesday” campaign but believes maintaining university spirit is important.

“By having spirit, I think students are going to be more united,” Lastra Santiago said. “… I think this would be interesting because I’ve never been part of events like this.” 

Calderon said his expectation for this campaign is to make students knowledgeable about “Orange Wednesday”.

“I really do not expect with this specific edition of the campaign, to go tomorrow to the Union and see everyone wearing orange,” he said. “… This was thought for students because we want them to be proud, because we want them to be part of initiatives that really add value to their college journey.”

Azhley Quiñones, an early childhood studies junior, said she was not aware of “Orange Wednesday” either but believes it is important to have a campaign that brings spirit to the university.

“From now on, yes, I will be wearing orange on Wednesday,” Quiñones said about participating in the campaign.