Sophomore Toby Lausin, a biological anthropology major, discusses ways GW could improve unity and school spirit.
I loved my high school. I supported it in every way I could because it gave so much to me: an education, opportunities, friends and an undying sense of school spirit. When I applied to GW I was hoping for that same thing. But now, as I enter my second year here, something has become very apparent: there is no school spirit. Period. GW needs to establish a sense of community and school spirit if it ever wants its students to be proud to bear its logo.
Whoa, what a totally awesome and novel idea…that comes up every year: http://www.gwhatchet.com/media/storage/paper332/news/2009/04/27/News/New-Student.Org.To.Promote.Spirit-3727099.shtml
Pretty sure the students who are really concerned are already a part of a spirit org (Colonial Army, Band, Dance Team, Cheer Team, etc.), and the rest of the student body doesn’t care: a quick look at athletics attendance records will show that. If people couldn’t come out to support a nationally ranked women’s basketball team, why would they be more into seeing non-athlete students play each other? I think a better use of time and funds would be to promote the activities that already exist, and go from there.
Hey Kat, I’m pretty sure you missed the entire idea of the editorial. Let me explain.
Lausin is supporting getting people at GW involved in ways OTHER THAN GW-sponsored athletics. He specifically says “Isn’t it a little pathetic to think that the general feeling of the entire university lies on the ability of one team?”
The activities that you list involve a specific type of student: someone who likes basketball, dances or cheers competitively or plays an instrument. Clearly, not everyone at GW does these things. Lausin believes that watching your friends at a Buff and Blue field day or dressing in all GW apparel would attract students who don’t normally participate in GW spirit activities to gain a sense of school spirit. Neither of these seem to require copious amounts of time or funds. Frankly, I don’t like basketball at all and going to a game will never be my idea of fun, no matter how highly ranked our team is, but wearing GW clothes on a Buff and Blue day is something that I, and quite a few other students might enjoy.
And as for your idea of sticking with activities we already do, I’m pretty sure that improvement often requires change. If GW goes with your suggestion, how will it ever better cater to the student body or engage prospective students?
This editorials argument:
Current Spirit promotion groups don’t work!
But a new one will!