History of and Value TGIT
TGIT nights hold a special place in the tradition of the University of Dallas. Students–and even faculty–gather one Thursday each month to enjoy great music and tapas. Students and faculty alike love TGIT, but very few know its origins.
The phrase “Thank God It’s Thursday” does not make much sense to us in Irving, knowing that classes are still in session on Friday. However, this is not the case in Rome.
According to a story told by Marissa Brown, a UD alumna and the current Director of Student Activities, students at the Rome campus traditionally do not have classes on Fridays. “That meant that on Thursdays, they would get together, and play music and hang out on the Rome campus, and that kind of started the tradition of TGIT” said Ms. Brown.
Later on, when the students returned to Irving, they missed their traditions from Rome so much that they decided to bring some of them to Dallas, including TGIT. Despite having classes the next day, students continued to celebrate on Thursday nights, starting the weekend early.
Although the origin of TGIT is known, the exact date of its beginnings and when it started to gain prominence on campus is unknown. Both Ms. Brown and Dr. Roper speculate that it began in the mid-to-late 1990s. However, Dr. Roper, who was being interviewed for his job in the English Department at the time, assures us that by the 2000s, it was already a tradition.
Dr. Gregory Roper’s first encounter with TGIT during his interview process was somewhat turbulent. He was staying overnight in the second-floor apartment in Haggar, and although he wanted to fall asleep early, a loud noise downstairs prevented him from doing so.
After arriving at the Rathskeller, half-asleep, he discovered what was happening. “It was a live band! And I’m like, ‘What is going on?’ And this officer goes, ‘Oh, it’s TGIT.’ ‘What the heck is TGIT?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, thank God it’s Thursday!’ And I’m like, ‘What is all that about?’” said Dr. Roper.
Unlike Dr. Roper, Ms. Brown was a student during TGIT’s run, so she had the opportunity to attend multiple times. In the 2010s, when Ms. Brown was a student, it was customary to create a theme for each TGIT.
For an “ABC” (anything but clothes) TGIT, where students had to make clothes out of other things, Ms. Brown spent almost two months “making a dress out of duct tape”, and a friend of hers “made a dress out of bubble wrap.” Another funny anecdote Ms.Brown gave was for a “Welcome to the Jungle” TGIT, a boy dressed up as a gorilla, and despite the heat, never revealed his identity.
Although the theme for TGIT still exists today, it is not as predominant as it was in the 2010s, reflecting the evolution of the event over the years. In the beginning, it was a small, casual gathering of friends where they played instruments and chatted.
In the 2000s, it gained popularity and grew, becoming more, like the TGIT we know today. Ideas for themes, decorations, the place, and the schedule began to emerge.
During the 2010s, the theme of TGIT became crucial.. “[Theme] was such a huge tradition that on Thursday morning or Wednesday nights you would go to St. Vincent de Paul with your friends, and you would find costumes at the thrift stores,” said Ms. Brown.
The current generation, on the other hand, has focused more on music and socializing. Now TGIT is an opportunity for DJs, bands and singers to showcase their talents, and for friends to get together and talk.
Although Rome started this tradition, there is something else that keeps it alive. Ms. Brown is often asked what the point of the event is, since it is quite expensive to organize and can distract students. “I think [TGIT] is the one place where all classes can come together, and you can just have your community… and have fun together,” said Ms. Brown.
TGIT emphasizes one of UD’s most fundamental values: living in a community that parties together. It’s true that celebrating on Thursday night when you have classes on Friday can be a bit disruptive, but as Dr. Roper says, “UD students are at their best when they’re seriously playful and playfully serious.”
TGIT reminds us that we need a break from thinking critically all the time. And what better break than listening to good music with your friends, alongside your community, under the starlight? Let’s continue to embrace TGIT; it truly emphasizes who we are at UD.