The Tufts Identity Crisis

September 14, 2007

by Brandon Rattiner

At any moment, the frenzied crowd could lose control. Every pass tested the capacity of the 100,000 person crowd to control its lunacy. The match, called the most important sporting event of the year by ESPN, was near the end and the crowd was wild with anticipation. After the final touchdown, the Ohio State fans screamed with joy as Michigan’s undefeated season was toppled. For the next week the largest university in the country celebrated in a way only college students know how: with cheap beer and loud music.

I can only imagine how much fun these students had, and I wish that I could find a collegiate event to invest myself in half as much as the Ohio State students. The part that kills me is the 100,000 wild fans are my age and seem to be having more fun than I will ever have at a game in Medford. With all due respect to Tufts athletics, comparing any of our teams to Ohio State would be an affront to sports. Even with that in mind, I wouldn’t say that any student at Ohio State loves their school any more than I love Tufts. They may be having more fun at games, but Tufts has plenty to offer, too. It’s important to realize that school spirit manifests differently at every school, but this obvious truth is very rarely announced.

People still assume that a university needs to be great at sports to justify an obsession with the college. Even though I walk around campus and notice many Tufts shirts and hats, there is still an undertone of passivity; as a Division III school, I will be more likely to remember my academic experience here than any football game. The class sizes may be small here, but Tufts can do more than further intellectualism.

Student clubs can create communities and serve as vehicles to change, but they are not enough. As an institution Tufts has incredible potential to shape our lives even without giant football games. Our lack of Division I athletics often takes the blame for weak school spirit, but the student body should look in the mirror and realize that we need to get more excited about what we do have. Most Tufts students tend to associate themselves with friends and clubs rather than the school at large. With the exception of school-sponsored dances, Spring Fling, and Naked Quad Run, it is very rare for the Tufts community to unite and show collective spirit. It’s too bad that the single most unifying event on campus was a response to an inappropriate Christmas carol.

We may not have athletics like Ohio State, but that doesn’t mean we can’t pretend we do, and more importantly, show our spirit in the same way the Buckeyes show theirs. I really do think that everyone here is proud to go to Tufts, but those individual passions rarely unite in schoolwide sentiment. Homecoming weekend is a great example. For one Saturday, a school wide tailgate and buzz was able to cloak the fact that our football team only finished 4-4. For that one day, everyone wanted to win and everyone was proud of our school’s teams. If we all had fun at that tailgate, why don’t we all come all the time? If our fun is dependent on ensuring the football game is packed and important, why don’t we all communicate and make sure this happens every week? Why doesn’t Programming Board, the class councils, Senate, or the athletics department take some responsibility and help bolster our pride? I may be coming off as too critical, but my frustration derives from how easy it would be to change this situation. Everyone complains that Greek life is dying due to the administration’s indifference or opposition, but what is stopping the Inter-Greek Council (IGC) from planning a school wide formal—open to everyone—and uniting the campus for one more night?

The only thing stopping this school from showing its spirit is a lack of ingenuity and desire to change. We don’t have to be complacent with only celebrating Tufts a few nights a year; considering the ambition of our students, change should not be hard. I love Tufts’ emphasis on global affairs and on student citizenship, but we should relax every once and a while and use that energy to honor the institution that makes our activism possible. Although we may not have the attention of ESPN—or even access to the channel in our dorms—we love our school as much as anyone at Ohio State loves theirs. When I put on my Tufts hat, it means a tremendous amount to me, and it’s about time that our school spirit starts reflecting the passion of the individuals that go here.