Ranging from wolves to galaxies, Body Art by Susan provided students with free tattoos on Tattoo Tuesday. The organization has been involved with this event since 2020.

Tattoo Tuesday took place in the Wicomico Room on Oct. 1, 2024, where people could choose between airbrush tattoos or tattoo sleeves. It was a day packed with choosing different designs to put on their bodies and socializing with the staff and fellow students.

Ancient ink is seen in tapestries and on people’s bodies: tattoos have differing beliefs in many cultures. It can mend the soul and mind. In other cultures, they can demonstrate a person’s class. They have existed for at least 5,300 years, becoming popular in the late 20th century when well-known athletes and musicians began getting tattoos, which started the craze.

Felicia Parker, SU’s housekeeping supervisor, has been working for 14 years at SU and got tattoos at the event.

“Well, I think I started off with was for my children, my son and my daughters name on me, that is the very first tattoo I got,” she said. “Yes, I got my grandkids on my back, I got like six tattoos, I lost my son in 2018, I put his on there, I lost my father and my brother so this arm right here is dedicated to them.

“They will always be with me.”

Parker discussed how tattoos are beneficial in showing a meaningful belief or idea, though they also may be used for appearance only.

“I would get a tattoo even for the looks, I probably would do that, I got a heart and, closer to my heart, a zodiac sign,” she said. “I got a whole lot of different ones”

AJ Sinado, a SU freshman majoring in Communication, told of how events like Tattoo Tuesday are integral to Salisbury University.

“I think this is a really fun event, you know, to socialize [with] people, try to figure out what the SU community is about, how recreational events could be hosted to make college life [what] it’s supposed to be,”

Sinado agrees that tattoos show significance in terms of remembering an essential aspect of his life and also bonding with his fellow peers.

“It would have to be my dogs because they have a lot of meaning to me and, you know, I live every day of my life thinking about them, because I don’t see them at home,” he said. “Yes, they keep me going, absolutely, I would go again.

“I think [it’s] a great way to get people to just bond with people, sort of connect; tattoos all have a meaning on them, a hidden meaning on everybody.”

Which tattoo will you be rocking next year?

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By JAMES HUFF

Staffer

Featured image courtesy of James Huff