Spring Break
True Blue
The irresistible appeal of Homecoming brings out the school spirit in everyone
Kristin Born/ Verge reporter
Issue date: 10/15/05 Section: The Verge
When Eastern takes the field at O'Brien Stadium Saturday morning, the team will be greeted by packed stands full of cheering fans covered in Panther blue.
Students, alumni, area residents and even those who normally don't make it out to the games will show off their Eastern spirit during the 2005 Homecoming game, which unfortunately isn't always the case.
Amy Reis, director of marketing for athletics, thinks the student body does a good job of showing school spirit.
"I have seen people decked out with painted bodies, but there should be more of that craziness and school spirit," said Laura Schenke, sophomore elementary and special education major. "Maybe people are just afraid of standing out."
"There is room for improvement," said Nancy Grant, business manager of athletics.
Even though Eastern students are proud of their university, Schenke said Eastern lacks the school spirit some other schools have, especially bigger ones where athletics are a more vital part of student life.
"I think we do have school spirit, but not as much as U of I. They have the whole Orange Krush thing," Schenke said.
Orange Krush, a student support group for Illini men's basketball, has been a long-standing tradition of Illini pride at the University of Illinois since the mid-70s. It grew over the years, according to illinipride.com, and is now a fund raising organization students must pay to participate in.
Eastern has a smaller athletics support group known as the Blue Crew, which is free to join.
"(At Eastern) there are probably more townies than actual students at games," Schenke said.
Robyn Hagerty, junior psychology major, said better student attendance at sporting events could solve the problem and help boost school spirit during regular sports seasons and not just during Homecoming weekend.
Eastern's athletic performance could also be a vital force driving school spirit, said Ademola Adeniji, a member of the football team, whose record is 3-2 going into the Homecoming game. Then again, a winning record and school spirit may be inversely related.
Students, alumni, area residents and even those who normally don't make it out to the games will show off their Eastern spirit during the 2005 Homecoming game, which unfortunately isn't always the case.
Amy Reis, director of marketing for athletics, thinks the student body does a good job of showing school spirit.
"I have seen people decked out with painted bodies, but there should be more of that craziness and school spirit," said Laura Schenke, sophomore elementary and special education major. "Maybe people are just afraid of standing out."
"There is room for improvement," said Nancy Grant, business manager of athletics.
Even though Eastern students are proud of their university, Schenke said Eastern lacks the school spirit some other schools have, especially bigger ones where athletics are a more vital part of student life.
"I think we do have school spirit, but not as much as U of I. They have the whole Orange Krush thing," Schenke said.
Orange Krush, a student support group for Illini men's basketball, has been a long-standing tradition of Illini pride at the University of Illinois since the mid-70s. It grew over the years, according to illinipride.com, and is now a fund raising organization students must pay to participate in.
Eastern has a smaller athletics support group known as the Blue Crew, which is free to join.
"(At Eastern) there are probably more townies than actual students at games," Schenke said.
Robyn Hagerty, junior psychology major, said better student attendance at sporting events could solve the problem and help boost school spirit during regular sports seasons and not just during Homecoming weekend.
Eastern's athletic performance could also be a vital force driving school spirit, said Ademola Adeniji, a member of the football team, whose record is 3-2 going into the Homecoming game. Then again, a winning record and school spirit may be inversely related.
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