We've got spirit, no we don't

By James Molnar

So what exactly happened at the Santa Clara versus Gonzaga men's basketball game a few weeks ago?

At first, I thought people were unhappy with the calls and the way the game was going. But I think the deeper problem is this: We lack school spirit at Santa Clara.

After performing a bit of research that included a survey of 40 Santa Clara students, I came to a simple yet perplexing conclusion.

Our poor sense of school spirit can largely be attributed to both the lack of athletic success and the lack of knowledge of our sports teams and events.

Let's learn some important facts about our student body. First, there are approximately 5,000 undergraduate students attending Santa Clara. Of those 5,000 students, approximately 3,800 are enrolled in the Ruff Riders organization.

Now, of those Ruff Riders, roughly 75 percent of the students I surveyed attended less than four athletic events.

With only four games or less to really get the feel and understanding of the atmosphere of big games, how can people know how to appropriately act or participate?

Apply this idea to the Gonzaga game. With only two huge games that people really feel compelled to attend, most spectators expect a good, fair and clean game.

Now, imagine as the game becomes close, time becomes an issue and people become anxious. Tensions rise and group mentality takes over.

People begin throwing objects on the court in anger and frustration. Not only is it embarrassing to the student body, but also to Santa Clara's alumni and faculty.

How can we ensure that something like that never happens again? Give us some more events where that big-game atmosphere is present and tensions are high.

If the student body has the opportunity to feel compelled and look forward to seeing every game, the frustration we've recently seen will evaporate as people begin to rationalize and realize that the particular game they are attending is not the end-all-be-all game of the year.

From the students' perspective, one of the biggest demands is for more effective marketing of games from the Athletic Department and student groups in charge of those matters. In the words of freshman Andrea Dlugos, "They do a poor job of advertising."

How can one expect people to attend games when the information is not given to the students? The Ruff Riders could surely find a more effective way of informing students about a must-attend game.

The school should also offer creative incentives to get students more interested in athletic events, even the ones where the stakes are not as high.

Why not have theme nights, whether it be tuxedo T-shirts, or Hawaiian night, anything to offer up a fun evening where the student body can come together and enjoy themselves and the game?

It would mean more fun games to attend and more weekends and games to look forward to. In short, it would lead to an improved sense of school spirit.

So my question is to you, the students: Do you want more games like the St. Mary's game and the Gonzaga game?

I would say yes because, beside the fact that we lost, these games were fun, exciting and allowed the school to come together, connect and bond over a simple game of basketball. Most students would more than likely agree with me on this.

After all, that's what school spirit is all about: connecting with your school, with your community and with your fellow students.

James Molnar is a freshman undeclared business major.