Rice spirit needs community audience, says Sammy

Hi, I am Sammy the Owl.

Two weeks ago, as the football team put together a historic comeback against University of Texas-El Paso, I peered up at the student section to discover that most students had already left. I was shocked. Forget the bowl game, forget all of last season, and all of recent football history — Rice missed one of the greatest moments in program history.

With only a couple of diehard fans remaining, I could not “lead the way” for the students to rush the 50-yard line. There were hardly any students to stand, cheer or even drink more beer. I understand that we were down by twenty points in the fourth quarter, but what happened to the “Rice! Fight! Never die!” spirit?

After mulling over recent events from my roost in the owlery, I believe that it is my duty to remind the Rice community, and the student body in particular, why they should be excited about all things Rice.

Regardless of whether you are an undergrad, graduate student, faculty, alumnus/a, staff, extended community or any other individual associated with Rice, you are an Owl. The Rice Owl is the one thing that we all have in common — it binds us together as a community, and we should take pride in being Owls.

In spite of being one of the smallest Division-I athletics programs, Rice’s sports teams have had incredible success. The baseball team rallied to finish first at the end of the regular season and third in the NCAA College World Series. The swim team recently won Rice’s second-ever national championship at the 2007 Open Water Swimming Collegiate National Championships. The women’s cross-country team surprised eight nationally ranked competitors at the Notre Dame Invitational, and then followed that up with victories in both the Conference USA Championships and the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships.

But it does not end with athletics. Rice students produce and act in numerous theater productions each semester. Rice Dance Theatre, a student-choreographed modern dance company, enriches our understanding of movement and art. The Philharmonics and Low-Keys harmonize. Spontaneous Combustion goofs off on stage to make us laugh. The Baker Institute Student Forum addresses important global issues. The Student Association and college cabinets provide student leadership. And students collaborate to discover, among other topics, cancer cures from zebrafish, better tools for carbon-neutrality and new methods of passing legislation in West African nations.

To borrow from the Public Affairs department, who knew being a Rice Owl meant so much?

Thus, I, Sammy, challenge every Rice Owl to never miss another great moment in Rice history. Attend Shepherd Chamber Orchestra performances. Peruse posters presented at the Rice Undergraduate Research Symposium. Cheer for your favorite powderpuff, softball and ultimate frisbee teams.

Rice students already participate in a wealth of activities, but we need to do a better job as fans. It is important that we create a strong tradition of supporting our peers.

I understand that not everyone loves football, classical music, architecture or politic. I know, however, that someone on this campus does and we should take it upon ourselves to be in the audience to encourage them.

Most of all, be spirited and stay until the end.

Stephen Rooke is a Hanszen College senior.

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