Junior Kaitlyn Lutz would never have guessed she would have Silly Bandz around her wrist.

She thought they were silly.

Even when women in her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, were wearing them, she still never thought she would be wearing Silly Bandz herself.

That is, until she visited her older brother in mid-August. His friends were wearing them and they gave her a few.

“I just kind of got peer pressured into it,” Lutz said.

For Lutz, though, it’s not all about what the Bandz are, but what they represent. They make her think of her mom, boyfriend or special memories.

For instance, her favorite one is a two-toned glitter longhorn that glows in the dark. She got it from her boyfriend, but it also reminds her of her mom, who was born in Texas.

“Even though they’re silly … they still have meaning in their own little ways,” Lutz said.

Sophomore Milan Piva has accumulated several Bandz, each with its own story and special meaning. When she wears them, she color coordinates them with her clothes.

Some of her more unique Bandz include a ring, an “I love you” hand gesture and a recycling logo. She also has a pink crown that’s special to her because Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, which she is a member of, has a crown as one of its symbols. Pink is also the color for breast cancer awareness, which happens to be Zeta Tau Alpha’s philanthropy.

But it’s not just students who are into Silly Bandz. Even some Baker faculty are getting in on these popular silicon bracelets.

Assistant Athletic Trainer Lynsey Payne became interested in Silly Bandz over the summer when two of her younger cousins gave her some.

One of Payne’s Bandz, a Jayhawk, represents her alma mater, the University of Kansas.

Payne has other Bandz resting in a bag in her office and she allows athletes to stop by and pick one out.

She also gave them out as prizes during Student Athletic Assistance training. That’s how Piva acquired a purple tooth.

“They’re cheap, they’re fun,” Payne said. “It’s … fun how you can personalize it.”

Payne said she also likes how Silly Bandz can be good conversation starters.

“It’s a good little ice breaker for those who don’t know each other,” Payne said.

Payne’s elastic Jayhawk gave her a fundraising idea: Baker-themed Silly Bandz. Since other universities, like KU, have Bandz, she thought it would be great for Baker to have them as well.

The dance team will be selling packs of three, including BU, paw print and maple leaf shapes, for $2. Payne hopes the Bandz will be in by Homecoming weekend.

While Dean of Students Cassy Bailey may not own any Bandz, she still knows a thing or two about them. Having two children and a husband that’s an elementary school teacher, Bailey knows how popular they are.

“I think they’re a great craze, I really do,” Bailey said. “I’m looking forward to acquiring some for myself.”

But if this Bandz craze ever does go out of style, Piva knows exactly what she’s going to do with hers: make a Silly Bandz collage.

“It will be like a kind of recycled art,” Piva said. “‘Silly Bandz Throughout the Ages.'”