The picture on the front page said it all. Mangled by layers of fallen logs, a student was pinned in pain. His leg was clearly broken in several locations, yet he refused help by waving rescuers on to another student trapped in the wood beneath him. The image was published by Texas A&M’s student newspaper following the devastating collapse of the Student Bonfire that killed 12 and injured 27 more just seven years ago. The lighting of the bonfire had become tradition on the eve before the big game against the University of Texas.
Each year since the tragedy the student body has honored their fallen students by sustaining the tradition. And every year the media responds the same: “All this for a football game?” Others have called it “senseless” and “in vain” by comparing it to a fraternity prank. But there is nothing “in vain” about the deaths of those students. Look around you and you’ll see why. We have a lot to relearn here at RPI.
Over the years we have lost our sense of traditions at a pace that just about correlates with the diminishing “student sections” in the Field House. Much of this is our own fault, but some of it is not. Students struggled to revitalize a bonfire at the first homecoming in years last fall. The result was a sputtering flame about two feet tall on a single pallet.
Bonfire or not, I know we have more school spirit than that. That’s why we’ve been working for a year to develop a new initiative called Go Be Red to reinvigorate students and athletes on this campus. It is a point-based competition in which teams of four to six students earn points by attending athletic events and competing in spirit challenges. The competition extends throughout the fall and spring semesters beginning with Homecoming and ending with the Big Red Freakout!, our biggest Division I hockey game of the season. Massive prizes will be awarded throughout the competition, culminating with the presentation of the grand prize: a fully-paid spring break vacation for the entire team. We like to call it “The Campaign to Reclaim National Championships.” You can call it your ticket to the beach!
The excitement kicks off Saturday, September 17, with continued team sign-ups and a world record breaking attempt. Immediately following the homecoming game against Utica, we will pack the ’86 Field with students, alumni, faculty, staff, community members, and administrators to set the Guinness World Record for the largest group performance of the Electric Slide! President Shirley Ann Jackson and the football team will be joining us on the field as we attempt a massive boogie-woogie!
The excitement will continue throughout the year with other spirit challenges that include Puckman launchings from the Union over the Quad, a spectacular Union catwalk extravaganza called Glam in Your Ginch, a Beach Party and Junkyard War like you’ve never seen before, and photo challenges that include Dr. Jackson grooving it up to Dance-Dance Revolution.
Of course, the most thrilling task at hand is cheering on our athletes to give them the encouragement to claim or reclaim their national championships. It’s been way too long since we’ve tasted such sweet victory and no time is better than now!
I urge you to grab your friends, form a team, or let the Go Be Red Staff know you are interested and we’ll help you find a team. Just do what you have to do to get off that fast-as-hell internet connection and put your red grooves to work. You have four ways to register: visit us at http://GoBeRed.rpi.edu/, signup at the kick-off event on Saturday, September 17, at 4 pm outside the ’86 Field following the football game, speak with one of our Go Be Red Staffers, or attend any home game or Go Be Red challenge where we will have representatives available to help you.
Imagine the energy. Imagine the excitement. It’s only just the beginning of the biggest school spirit initiative RPI has seen in decades. Beat Clarkson!
As I come to a close in my column this week, I’d like to rally the student body behind the relief efforts taking place for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Later this evening the Student Senate will come together to pass a resolution challenging the student body to raise $35,000 to meet or exceed the contributions made by the administration. This will not be an easy task, but I am certain we can do this. If every student gives just $5 we will be well on our way to achieving this goal. Each of your senators is pledging at least $10 with our Rules and Elections Chairman Kim Conway leading the way with over $200 pledged. Please join with us and give what you can. Gifts in-kind can be made to RPI Relief through Alpha Phi Omega (APO) located in Union room 3420. God bless and good luck.
