The Student Printz

Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: Opinion

Over the course of the past 3 years, I have witnessed the presence of a disturbing trend on this campus. I have observed that there is a reluctance amongst a portion of the student body to truly embrace the rich traditions and institutions of this university, in particular, the athletic program. Far too many students have opted to allow USM to take a back seat to the schools that they "grew up with." I believe that this trend has impeded the progress of our athletic program, if not our university as a whole. I am truly distraught by the infatuation that some students on this campus have with regards to Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU, Alabama, and others. While the intent of these students may be harmless, nevertheless, it is my belief that these actions serve to hinder the tireless efforts that past and present university officials and students have made to form a truly cohesive university identity. USM is a university steeped in a rich tradition that a portion of the student populace seems to care little about. Instead these students choose to complain about our shortcomings while simultaneously praising the accomplishments of the school they "grew up with." I am not asking the students on this campus to completely abandon their stake in other universities. Rather, I am simply asking that these individuals put their allegiances to the side and embrace our traditions and institutions while on THIS CAMPUS. If we truly wish to see this university reach "the top," we must first make an effort to distance ourselves from other schools.

Thomas Hinkle

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