Lack of school spirit evident in clothing

October 30, 2006 —

Considering I'm attending SVSU, I expect to see a sea of red and white with those letters on peoples' clothing. However, lately I have been surprised that they are not the most common letters worn on the outside of jackets and sweatshirts.

In class, the guy sitting next to me proudly wears "Notre Dame" on his hoodie. As I leave that class, I make my way down the hall in Curtiss only to run into a girl wearing a green sweatshirt that reads "Ferris State." I quickly conclude that the students seen on campus are either not proud of the school they attend, or they just can't afford to buy an SVSU sweatshirt. I highly doubt the money issue is the case.

Just because SVSU is not as big and well-known as schools like Michigan State or U of M doesn't mean we can't have pride in our institution.

It disappoints me to walk to class every day seeing all colors of the rainbow and barely any red. It seems that the only times Red Pride t-shirts seem to sneak out of closets are for the occasional home football game.

Once the game is over, it's right back on the floor, under the bed, or stuffed in a drawer.

I understand that people have their favorite college sports teams and would like to show their support; believe me, I am not trying to bash other schools. However, when I notice someone walking in front of me wearing Grand Valley attire so close to "The Battle of the Valleys," it worries me. You wouldn't see someone in Ann Arbor sporting a Spartans jacket the week before the big Michigan/Michigan State game.

In high school I remember people commenting about how bad our school was. They wouldn't wear clothing from our school store because they didn't want to waste their money when they were "just leaving in a few years anyway."

Coming from a public high school, it's more understandable because no one has the opportunity to choose what school they attend like they do for college. Every SVSU student had to apply to the University. Obviously there was something they liked about it, right?

A majority of students will not graduate within four years; students will definitely get their money's worth from that cardinal red t-shirt from the bookstore after wearing it for the five and sometimes even six years they attend this school.

I hope that one day before I graduate, I can walk to class and see red everywhere. Maybe those Red Pride t-shirts will come out of the closet more often than on the day of a home football game. Instead of wearing one because you should wear it, put on some SVSU gear because you have pride in the school you attend.

From now on, please think before you pull that Grand Valley sweatshirt over your head just a short time before "Battle of the Valleys," and before you put on that CMU baseball cap. No, I haven't forgotten all of those who do wear their red and white and sport the Cardinal, and I thank those that do. But just remember; why not grab something that says "SVSU" and show your Red Pride?