Game Day

Saturdays are always something to look forward to, especially when there is a football game. The first game of the year is called gold rush, the student section is a sea of gold shirts and painted bodies. The first games of the year are often in the heat of the summer, towards the end of the season a different wardrobe is necessary to endure the elements. The first game I got sunburned and this last game I almost froze. Cat games are always a good time whether we win or lose. Before the game there is the option to tailgate. This is a fun time to eat some burgers and hang out with friends before the game. It’s always fun to find friends who have a truck and grill so you can grab some food. Champ, the Bobcat mascot, usually makes rounds in the tailgate area as well. At the most recent game I met Montana Senator Jon Tester, there are many opportunities to meet well known Montanans and politicians at games. The marching band usually plays a song or two to get everyone ready to head into the stadium. Last year I only attended one game and this year I have only missed one. I don’t know a lot about football, but there are a lot of fun traditions that are a lot of fun to be a part of at football games. For example, the Montana State Bobcat fight song as is follows

Stand up and cheer,
Cheer long and loud for dear Montana
For today we raise
The blue and gold to wave victorious
Our sturdy band now is fighting
And we are sure to win the fray
We've got the vim, We're here to win
For this is dear Montana's Day!

[Gold Rush ] [Bobcat Boulevard]

[Senator Jon Tester] [Bobcat Stadium]

rewind three months

Nearly eight weeks into school we have received our first snow fall. I wanted to jump back to August real quick and recall some fun times that did not include long underwear and hot chocolate. The week before school starts is always a lot of fun. All the students are back in town and with lots of catching up to do it’s easy to stay busy. Summer time in Bozeman is just as enjoyable as the winter; although there is no skiing (usually) there is always something to do. Floating the Madison River is probably one of the most popular summer past times; floating down in tubes, laying in the sun, and spending time with friends. Also every Thursday evening during the summer time there is an event called Music on Main. The downtown is closed to traffic and the bands set up stage right on Main Street. The music is well known local artists, such as The Clintons Band, one of my favorite. The downtown restaurants and local businesses have vendors out on the street for a bite to eat. It is always a fun time to see people in the community reconnect with old classmates and spend some time with friends. As the end of the summer comes to an end its inevitable school is right around the corner. With everyone back in town I found myself helping friends moving into the resident halls and their own houses. Now that school has started I can look forward to the fun things that come along with classes.

Foreword

Hello there, my name is Jon Sand. I am a second year in the Environmental Design/Architecture program at Montana State University. As a native of Bozeman I feel lucky that I can receive one of the best educations while continuing to live in such a beautiful area. After graduating from Bozeman High I had no desire to leave Montana. Not to say that I didn’t know what was out there. I spent many summers traveling to different parts of the world. In the past five years I have been to Australia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Italy and Greece. Those were all awesome experiences and I learned so much from those travels. I look forward to continuing my world tour with some opportunities of student exchange through the university. After each visit to different parts of the world I was always ready to come home to Bozeman.

My family has been calling Bozeman home since the 70s when my parents moved here to attend MSU. They came from the east coast, and everyone thought they were crazy for moving here. My Mom works on campus as an Academic Advisor in the Native American Studies and my Dad is an attorney in town. I have two older brothers, both of which attended/attend MSU. Matt, who graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering, is now working for Boeing in Seattle, and Pete is finishing up his degree in Environmental Studies and hopes to work for the National Park Service. This is just one example of the vast array of majors and career paths offered at MSU.

Top picture is a view of the Bridger Mountains, from town, and and picture to the left is a sunset view of the Gallatin Valley