Uncommon School Spirit

We started off the school year sweltering–lugging futons, mini fridges, and our complete wardrobes from home up dozens of flights of stairs. We’ve spent nights in barely-there party dresses, tanks, and shorts. We’ve run to the nature park with the best intentions of doing the 4-mile loop only to realize we’ll suffer from heat exhaustion.

Now that we are settled into the regular routine of school, I think its safe to say we’re in the mood for fall. We are ready for the chilly weather; the sweaters, jeans and Sperry’s, and the crunch of the leaves under our feet. The most exciting and exhilarating thing that fall brings is the 2011 DePauw Tiger Football Season. The school spirit and pride that an intense game of football brings is “uncommon success” at it’s finest. We are ready to break out our black and gold attire, obnoxious face paint, and fire up the grills.

But, as we prepare for this season of football, we check the DePauw website to find that we have only three home games, one including the Monon Bell game. We sit bewildered at the thought of only three tailgates on our turf, only three times to scream “GO DEPAUW!” in Blackstock Stadium until our voices are raspy—only three times to show our Tiger Pride.

I’m proposing some solutions to this upsetting fact. There has been an increase in DePauw spirit this year compared to previous years at DePauw, and I believe it’s due to a variety of things, one including the lack of football games. Don’t fret Her Campus readers, it’s still possible to get your fix of black and gold in this season!

Show That School Spirit

Grab a group of friends and venture to the field hockey games (even if you don’t understand the sport!). Lose your voice cheering for your friends and sorority sisters at that super intense volleyball game. Sport your favorite DePauw shirt, and rollerblade over to the home soccer game. Venture to the tennis matches and make your friend smile as you cheer her on. Line the bleachers, far and wide. Make the DePauw events you attend the most animated and thrilling events you’ve ever been to. It’s all about the attitude, kids.

Travel

Be bold—bring that DPU spirit to another university and show them what they’re missing out on. Many students traveled to the opener football game at Rose-Hullman and cheered our Tigers on to a 23-13 victory. The cross country team has rocked their away meets; somebody has to appreciate all their hard work! Those of us at DePauw University always go above and beyond.

Turn Greek Spirit into DePauw Spirit

Sometimes our love for our fraternities and sororities overpowers our love of all things DePauw. Go crazy at Greek events like Little 5, Greek God and Goddess, Ring Sing, Anchor Splash and more. At the same time, the late-night GCB’s, study breaks at the Roy O. Café, games of campus golf under a bright blue sky, and so many more activities unite us as a campus. We love our philanthropies and sisterhood retreats, but let’s also remember this great school with killer sports teams that are astounding at what they do. Support your sisters (and brothers) by attending any and all DePauw events, near and far away.          

Let’s turn our sadness of only three home football games into the BEST three home games DePauw has ever seen. Go to every game, tournament, match, scrimmage, face-off and meet feasible. While we’re at it, maybe even wear some face paint to class. We bleed black and gold; that’s what puts DePauw above the rest. We may be a D3 school, but our love of DePauw puts those D1 schools to shame. Get ready DePauw, there’s a school spirit bug going around and everybody wants to catch it!