When we picture Jack Trice Stadium, we see a tradition of Cyclone excellence: Hawkeyes leaving with their heads down, a sea of white pompoms during the whiteout game and the unmatched excitement of Homecoming weekend. Jack Trice is more than just a stadium — it’s the beating heart of campus where we choose to spend our Saturdays.
That’s why, on February 4th, 2024, when we announced our candidacy for Student Body President and Vice President, we unveiled a historic vision: bring student-centric concerts back to Jack Trice Stadium for the first time in over two and a half decades.
Throughout our campaign, we met with countless student organizations — often up to four or five each night at our peak. We spoke with students of every background and walk of life, because we wanted to understand exactly how we could improve the student experience for them. Our takeaway could not have been more clear: students want an unforgettable college experience.
For many, that means the experience their parents or grandparents had. Ask any alumnus what they remember about Iowa State, and, without fail, they’ll tell you about concerts. They’ll tell you about bright lights and loud music; they’ll tell you about staying up all night listening to the Rolling Stones; and they’ll tell you about some of their best memories of their time as Cyclones. It became our mission to give students what their parents and grandparents had experienced.
Perhaps more so than any other student group, Student Government has the tools to make change happen on our campus. Our organization helped establish the Memorial Union after World War I; we implemented the precursor to the modern-day honors program; and, alongside the Athletics Department, we pushed for the historic naming of Jack Trice Stadium. Throughout our terms as Student Body President and Vice President, we used every resource and pulled every lever at Student Government’s disposal to bring our vision to fruition. Our efforts culminated in the groundbreaking allocation of
$150,000 towards free and discounted student concert tickets — funding which we hope will be utilized this spring.
What began as a daunting task has now become a reality. This past Thursday, the Athletics Department announced that eight-time Grammy-nominated artist Luke Combs will be touring at Jack Trice Stadium on Saturday, April 11th — the first Jack Trice Stadium concert to occur during the school year since 1999, and the first concert executed under the student-centric model Student Government and Athletics announced this past spring.
We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to President Wendy Wintersteen, Dr. Toyia Younger, Director Jamie Pollard, Associate Director Chris Jorgensen and the entire world-class Athletics Department staff. Further, we could not be more thankful for current Student Body President Colby Brandt and Vice President Will Vlasek, both of whom have continued Student Government’s commitment to student-centric events.
Students spoke, and they listened. Bringing such a high-caliber act to Jack Trice Stadium for students to enjoy didn’t happen overnight, and it didn’t happen without an incredible amount of work behind the scenes. Iowa State is lucky to have such committed and student-focused senior leadership.
We know how Jack Trice Stadium brings us together. From packing the Cy-Hawk game to cheering on our team during Homecoming, visiting Jack Trice Stadium is a central part of what it means to be a Cyclone, and the time we spend in the student section with our friends is what we’ll remember for years to come. We could not be more proud that a new generation of Cyclones will now also experience Jack Trice Stadium the way their parents and grandparents did: alongside friends, enjoying good music and making memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you for the trust you placed in us to represent you, and thank you to Athletics for hearing our call. We can’t wait to celebrate with you in Jack Trice Stadium on April 11th.
In Cardinal and Gold,
Martin Hursh, 72nd Student Body President
Quinn Margrett, 74th Student Body Vice President
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source iowastatedaily.com ’
