Dear Tulane Community:
Carnival is here and that means having the time of your life while staying safe with these Mardi Gras Tips from the Division of Student Affairs.
As with every other aspect of life in our wonderful city, Tulane plays an important role in the annual celebration of Mardi Gras. Last night, I went to the Muses parade and, although they were masked, I am fairly certain I spotted the head of our Advancement Department and our General Counsel among other Tulane-affiliated riders.
The Tulane Marching Band has taken to the streets as well this carnival season and will appear in no less than five major parades, including Krewe d'Etat, Thoth and Rex. Tulanians of all ages will line the parade routes of their favorite krewes this weekend from Metairie to Magazine Street, from Napoleon Avenue to the Northshore and all points between.
And, in addition to Muses, Tulane is well-represented in parades throughout this festive season, ranging from Barkus to Bacchus to Endymion, Zulu, Rex and more – not to mention great dance troupes such as the 610 Stompers.
Anyone who has ever been to Mardi Gras knows it involves a lot of walking – from your car to the route and back, around the corner, across the street, up the ladder and down, etc. That's why TU Wellness, a division of Tulane's Office of Human Resources, is kicking off its "Fitts Bit" Challenge for faculty and staff today! Faculty and staff wishing to participate in the challenge should email a photo of their beginning step count total as of March 1 from their smart phone or fitness device to tuwellness@tulane.edu. To complete the challenge, participants should submit their final step count total for the month of March on April 1 to tuwellness@tulane.edu. First, second and third place grand prizes will be given for the highest total step counts at the end of the challenge. Grand prizes include an Apple Homepod (1st Place), an Apple Watch Series 4 (2nd place) and $100 cash (3rd place). Submitting your weekly step count total, from Sunday to Monday, to tuwellness@tulane.edu by 5 p.m. each Monday will also automatically enter you in weekly drawings for a FitBit Alta.
Winning some cool devices will be nice, but the greatest reward of the Fitts Bit Challenge will be the improved health and well-being participants will receive by picking up their steps this month and beyond. I am wearing my FitBit now and checking it constantly (see photo below.) I logged 80,069 steps last week! So take the Fitts Bit Challenge and let's do some high-steppin' this Mardi Gras.
