Throughout the course of my almost 20 years of living, my life has basically revolved around Southern University. My mother and father both graduated from Southern University.
All of my maternal aunts and uncles graduated from here minus one and my paternal aunt graduated from here (my paternal uncle graduated from LSU). Most of my cousins graduated from here. Needless to say, I have a lot of ties to this university. Let’s not forget about football games. I was born in May; therefore I attended my first football game when was 4 months old. My brother was born in September and went to the Bayou Classic.
My immediate family and I also were featured in “The Advocate” for tailgating. We had a motor home and tailgated at every home game and most of the away games at spot 52 by the flag pole in the Mini-Dome parking lot. For homecoming, we would stay overnight. We had a set breakfast menu and different menus for each game. All my parents’ friends would come and spend the day with us. My grandparents would come. It would be a family affair.
My mother worked for Southern for 10 years. I spent many days doing my homework in her office listening to student-athletes fight for their eligibility to play their respected sport. All of them wanted to “do their university proud.”
I always dreamed of coming to SU. I thought it was the best place ever. It was so fun and had a great atmosphere. Everyone seemed so happy and glad to be a part of the Jaguar Nation. Students, alumni and everyone who attended the games had so much pride.
To make a long story short, I didn’t come to SU right after high school. I went to Clark Atlanta University for my freshman year and then transferred here after my freshman year.
My, how things have changed from when I was a little girl to now, me being a sophomore here. Student’s pride is now almost non-existent. When I was growing up, the basketball games were a full house. You had to get there early just so you wouldn’t have to sit in the yellow bleachers. Very few students have “school spirit.” Nowadays, no one goes to the games (mainly because the men suck). And the only thing on everyone’s mind is refund checks. No one seems to care that the “Ole Southern Tradition” is going down the drain.
Now that I have named all of the problems, how do we change it? We have to go back to the ‘90s and even before were Southern was fun. When students were able to participate in extra-curricular activities AND still go to class and get their school work done. We need to care about our school. This starts with little things like picking up trash. Has anyone seen the parking lot of Shade and Totty? I’m sure you can find a bag from every restaurant on the ground in the parking lot. We need to get back where we were and care about what’s ours. I mean you pay to go here, so let’s start caring about our university so it can be here for OUR children to attend.
"That Old Southern Spirit" is missing
Published: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Updated: Thursday, March 4, 2010 13:03
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Breanna Paul
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