This post was updated Nov. 30 at 9:40 p.m.
The UCLA Student Alumni Association replaced its annual nighttime Beat ‘SC Rally with a midday kickoff event Monday due to a modified football schedule.
The rally, which has been a tradition since 1940, is typically held Wednesday night in advance of UCLA’s annual rivalry football game against USC, said Louise Goldman, SAA’s Beat ‘SC Rally co-director. Goldman, a second-year environmental science student, said SAA modified the event – while still incorporating the same traditional activities – to take place at 12 p.m. in Bruin Plaza because UCLA’s football game against USC falls on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
[Related: Student Alumni Association’s annual Beat ‘SC rally brings UCLA fans together]
The move came as UCLA Football changed its schedule, which will impact the 2025-30 seasons, according to UCLA Athletics’ website. The kickoff will likely replace the rally in future seasons if the game continues to be scheduled for the weekend following Thanksgiving, Goldman said.
[Related: Rivalry Issue 2025]
Despite the change, Caroline Meyers, a fourth-year public affairs student, said she is excited to start a new tradition.
“It’s been interesting to see how we can pivot to better fit the need of each year,” she said. “The rallies are really cool – and maybe we’ll go back to that eventually – but just with the timeline this year, this was the most feasible and best option for our organization.”
The kickoff featured “Get the Red Out,” a tradition where students trade a red t-shirt for a Beat ‘SC Rally T-shirt. Organizers incorporated a food drive into the event, which gave students the opportunity to donate nonperishable food in exchange for a T-shirt.
The food drive was implemented as some students face food insecurity and delayed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, Goldman said.
Benefits for CalFresh, which is California’s version of SNAP, were temporarily paused as part of the federal government shutdown from Oct. 1 to Nov. 12. Californians began to see their SNAP benefits restored starting Nov. 6 following a court order during the shutdown, but there could be delays in delivering the benefits, according to The New York Times.
“That (the food drive) was in response to the fact that it is Thanksgiving, and it’s a time of food insecurity – especially with SNAP benefits being cut earlier this month,” Goldman said. “We want people to have them (T-shirts), and we want there to be multiple ways to earn them by giving to the community.”
[Related: Federal government shutdown threatens CalFresh benefits, students’ food security]
Anna Walburger, a fourth-year cognitive science student and SAA’s Beat ‘SC Rally co-director, said the kickoff featured bracelet-making stations, prizes, photo booths and food trucks. SAA hopes to use its budget on multiple small-scale events instead of a big event, she added.
Goldman said SAA is also planning to expand events to other UCLA sports such as basketball and water polo.
“For basketball at least, we’re going to try and do something similar to this,” Goldman said. “There’s a lot of culture on the line for tickets and everything like that, … and then we also are putting a lot of emphasis on our merch this year, so we have T-shirts for the football programming, and then we’ll also have other merch for basketball and other sports.”
Jeff Maynor, who is married to a UCLA alumnus, said he has attended the Beat ‘SC Rally about four times and particularly enjoyed the traditional shows held by the SAA. SAA previously held a bonfire at the Beat ‘SC Rally before being replaced by a light show in 2022.
In light of the modified rally, Maynor said he was happy to visit UCLA regardless of if the event is held at night or during the day. He added that he received a Beat ‘SC T-shirt, UCLA-themed sunglasses and played a spin-the-wheel game at the kickoff.
However, Maynor said he hopes the SAA brings back the rally if the football schedule permits it in the future.
Maynor said he attended the UCLA football game against Washington, adding that he was disappointed by UCLA’s 48-14 loss. However, he said he believes it is still worth raising school spirit.
“When you’re playing for city pride it doesn’t really matter what the records are,” he said. “It’s UCLA versus USC, so hopefully, the Bruins will rise to that occasion.”
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