Let’s talk for a minute about school spirit.
Fandom aside – and the Constitution guarantees you the right to pay $50 for the college sweat-shirt of your choice – it strikes This Examiner as odd that there’s not more local support for our local colleges and universities, not even among their own students.
We even have two newly-minted state colleges in GreaterJax™: St. Johns River State College (SJRSC) and Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSC). Like Jacksonville University (JU) and the University of North Florida (UNF), both have been around a while as ju-cos.
When was the last time you saw a Viking (SJRSC) t-shirt? How about an Osprey t-shirt (UNF)?
Not much “Go Dolphins (JU)!” love walking around either.
Why is everybody a wannabe?
Yes, the University of Florida Gators (UF) are glamorous. (Roll Tide.)
Yes, Florida State University (FSU) is very, very sexy. (Roll Tide.)
So are the University of Georgia and, of course, the University of Alabama – Tuscaloosa (BAMA).
But they’re not here.
Even Your Examiner has to admit that she stretched the borders of GreaterJax™ just a tad to include Gainesville because it has a decent meat market.
Take a walk on one of our local campuses – SJRSC, for instance – and ask the students why they don’t sport more school color.
Their reasons are many, but they generally fall into three categories:
- We’re too poor. Have you seen the prices on this crap?
- My Daddy, who pays my tuition, is a Gator (‘Nole, ‘Cane . . . ).
- ‘Cuz we suck. End of report.
Your school team may well suck, but school shirts are still cool.
Be stylin’.
Live where you are.
Roll Tide.
-30-
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OFFICIAL BIO: K Truitt is a second-generation, native Floridian born in Jacksonville. Truitt worked in public higher education for 25 years, most recently in Texas, is a successful grant writer, knows newspaper publishing, printing and graphic design and wants to work in the public sector. Contact: kt.4examiner@yahoo.com
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