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Chapter 7: School Spirit!

Over the last two months, I’ve noticed something in the atmosphere at Carleton that was never all that present at my high school: spirit.

Sure, during my time at Scarlett, we’d get dressed up for basketball playoffs or don a costume for Halloween, but there was never a great sense of community at the school. It’s different here.

People aren’t afraid to flaunt their school pride. There are students sporting Carleton sweaters, hats, and t-shirts everywhere; reading the school’s newspaper, The Charlatan and going to Ravens athletic games. Just being on campus makes me feel like I’m part of a huge community.

Apart from the constant cheering and yelling during Frosh week, the first time I really noticed Carleton students’ willingness to step out of their box was on International Suit Up Day.

We weren’t the only ones to tie our ties and look sharp on October 13. The Facebook event attracted over 700,000 attendees across the globe. Anyone unaware of the event’s occurrence would have thought that Carleton was some sort of conference centre for young businessmen and women - everywhere you looked, there were students in suits.

My floor and floor below us both suited up, and then made an entrance into the cafeteria together. I have never felt so sophisticated while eating pizza. There was really no point to the event; it was just an excuse to be LEGEN ... wait for it ... DARY.

The second time I took note of our school’s exceptional spirit happened while I was riding the bus, or “the red and white limo,” as OC transportation busses are affectionately called.

Carleton University and The University of Ottawa have always been rivals. Both schools’ student bodies firmly believe that they are far superior to the other. Although I am not sure why cause Carleton is clearly the best! And as with any good rivalry, there’s definitely some trash talking, and trash chanting that goes on. Usually it occurs at sporting events, but, as I learned last week, outbursts of school pride can happen anywhere.

Last week, I went to see LMFAO for “Rock The Vote,” in support of the then-upcoming mayoral election in Ottawa. The concert was terrible (anyone who read Off The Air is probably wondering what possessed me, of all people, to attend an LMFAO show), but the bus ride home was priceless…

Most people on the bus were students who had come from the concert. Everyone was talking about the show and laughing when all of a sudden a lone voice started to sing.

“There’s a hole in the city and its name is Ottawa U…”

By the time he hit the second line, the entire bus was belting out Carleton’s fight song against the Ottawa U Gee-Gees.

“…And if you’re dull and boring, then it’s the place for you.”

Poetic, isn’t it?

“Oh I’d rather be a Raven than a horse!” says another Carleton chant.

It certainly didn’t take me long to embrace the Ravens spirit. Be it suiting up or singing on public transit, there’s always a way to feel like you’re a part of something bigger.