I truly believe that spirit within an educational institution makes up the backbone of its structure. It is the support that allows a place to come alive and to become more than various brick buildings filled with rooms that are filled with desks. Here at Texas A&M University-Commerce we can have as many students as we can possibly fit into residence halls and classrooms, but what good is it in the end if people don’t care enough to give back to this place that will have given them so much?
If I had a quarter for every time I heard a student express his or her desire to have pep rallies, concerts and other events like “the big schools have,” I would probably be doing pretty well financially. Now, I realize that we might not seem like a big school because we don’t have 300 students in a classroom nor do we have some of the amenities that larger universities provide, however, students at A&M-Commerce need to realize that we are on the fast track to obtaining the status of a “big university.”
Right now, we have at least 11,000 students enrolled at this university. TCU states a total of approximately 9,150 on their website, and aren’t they a big school? We see their games on TV with packed stands and students decked out in purple and white, even over their faces.
Students constantly complain about how much they want to experience what other students experience at games and events, but for every person who says that, it is his or her own fault for feeling that way.
School spirit is not just about athletic games, much to many peoples’ surprise I am sure. Sporting events are just what comes to mind when we think of school spirit, because we can develop a visual image of students standing and cheering, proud of their team (this could also be because we live in Texas and football is a lifestyle here). But whether it is football, volleyball, a concert, an art gallery showing, a pep rally or a birthday party for a building, school spirit is welcome.
I stated earlier that if you complain about not having spirit like other schools do, it is likely your own fault. The more time every student at this institution spends complaining about their desire for something that is somewhere else is time wasted that could be spent making a change on this campus. If you want what you see at TCU, A&M-College Station, UT and similar schools so badly, then go out, do what they do and let others see that they can participate as well.
Paint your face and go to a game. Gather some friends and attend the events that are put on almost weekly at various locations throughout campus. Join an organization and actually be a part of it rather than sitting in the meetings half-listening. I want students, old and new, to know that this university is a good one to be involved with, now and in the future.