School spirit?
Whitney Stout
Issue date: 9/23/09 Section: Opinion
If you visit most college campuses across America, you will find students aren't shy when it comes to showing their school spirit. From football games to social events, campus life is thriving and exciting.
Just last weekend, I attended the University of Michigan vs. Notre Dame game at the Big House. I'll admit it, I was a college football virgin and this was my big prom night. Just walking through the streets of Ann Arbor on game day was enough to instill excitement.
However, nothing could prepare me for the overwhelming amount of school pride that was awaiting the kickoff. Students roared, parents cheered and chants were screamed for the home team. It was a display of school pride that I had never seen before.
Now, I'm not saying that the University of Detroit Mercy doesn't have school spirit; that would not be true in the least. But to have that level of unity and enthusiasm on campus is something I think this university sadly lacks.
I am aware, that for, many UDM is a commuter school, but roughly half of the school's population lives on campus and calls it home about nine months out of the year. So, where does everyone go? I'm not talking about during the day; everyone is attending classes and lectures. However, come the weekend, campus is as dead as a doornail. Why is that?
I am well aware of the fact that the security at the university is tight regarding alcohol consumption. Unless you are 21, you can't even be in the same room as someone legally consuming alcohol. It is not your average college campus in that sense.
Just ask Melanie Capuanco, a sophomore transfer student from Michigan State University.
"Everyone just disappears on the weekends," she said. "At State, there was always something to do, even if it was sponsored by the school. You meet up with your friends and go have a good time. Here at UDM, the weekend scene is nonexistent."
When I was staying on campus, I would often go home on weekends because campus was lifeless. I know many other students fall in the same category. Just because we are a smaller, private school doesn't mean we all have to go our own separate, quiet ways after classes get out.
If we think we have school spirit, let's unite as a campus and be a destination where other students from outside universities want to hang out.
Hey, who knows, maybe one of these days U of M and MSU won't even compare to the UDM weekend scene.
Just last weekend, I attended the University of Michigan vs. Notre Dame game at the Big House. I'll admit it, I was a college football virgin and this was my big prom night. Just walking through the streets of Ann Arbor on game day was enough to instill excitement.
However, nothing could prepare me for the overwhelming amount of school pride that was awaiting the kickoff. Students roared, parents cheered and chants were screamed for the home team. It was a display of school pride that I had never seen before.
Now, I'm not saying that the University of Detroit Mercy doesn't have school spirit; that would not be true in the least. But to have that level of unity and enthusiasm on campus is something I think this university sadly lacks.
I am aware, that for, many UDM is a commuter school, but roughly half of the school's population lives on campus and calls it home about nine months out of the year. So, where does everyone go? I'm not talking about during the day; everyone is attending classes and lectures. However, come the weekend, campus is as dead as a doornail. Why is that?
I am well aware of the fact that the security at the university is tight regarding alcohol consumption. Unless you are 21, you can't even be in the same room as someone legally consuming alcohol. It is not your average college campus in that sense.
Just ask Melanie Capuanco, a sophomore transfer student from Michigan State University.
"Everyone just disappears on the weekends," she said. "At State, there was always something to do, even if it was sponsored by the school. You meet up with your friends and go have a good time. Here at UDM, the weekend scene is nonexistent."
When I was staying on campus, I would often go home on weekends because campus was lifeless. I know many other students fall in the same category. Just because we are a smaller, private school doesn't mean we all have to go our own separate, quiet ways after classes get out.
If we think we have school spirit, let's unite as a campus and be a destination where other students from outside universities want to hang out.
Hey, who knows, maybe one of these days U of M and MSU won't even compare to the UDM weekend scene.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Glen Mckay
posted 9/24/09 @ 10:51 PM EST
Any news on Keri Gaither's plans to add a football team? She mentioned it during the Final Four, then...nothing.
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