2008 Woodie Awards
School spirit songs miss mark
By: Jessica Rhynalds
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: Features
Classmates huddled together in the bleachers, proudly singing their school's fight song, or students eagerly lined up for graduation, boasting their beloved alma mater are images historically associated with college life.
But at Chico State, for the most part, it isn't until graduation that students hear their alma mater, the University Hymn. Although the fight song is more well known and featured at some sports games, it's almost as elusive as the hymn.
The first verse of the University Hymn is sung at graduation and commencement ceremonies, whereas the fight song, important to many alumni, is a fun chant to cheer at basketball and soccer games.
"I heard the fight song once at a soccer game and no one knew what it was, but I knew," junior Shannon Carter said.
Brink of extinction
Many alumni hold the fight song dear to their college experience at Chico State.
Leonard Whitegon is credited with saving the school fight song from extinction, according to the alumni Web site. When music professor and director of bands Royce Tevis came to the university and found the music to the fight song but not the lyrics, Whitegon was able to recite the words from memory.
Tevis said the music department added some fanfare to the fight song in the '60s, but by 2001 it was gone. After contacting alumni, they pieced together the parts and reconstructed it.
Tevis, an alumnus himself, recalls the importance of the fight song at Chico State.
"Everyone would sing the fight song at the games, and the alma mater was sung at the end of every football game whether we won or not," he said. "And then (we'd) sing the fight song again after that."
Whitegon is well known in the alumni office, said alumni and parent relations director Susan Linders-Anderson, who recalls him making an effort to support the Wildcats at basketball games.
"Len sits right down front," Linders-Anderson said. "I think he has a front-row seat reserved. He stands up and waves his arms to get everyone into the song."
Tevis can see why people would consider the fight song dated, he said. He thinks it was from the time of John Philip Sousa.
Fight song sexism and football
Senior Jake Acosta thinks things that build school spirit, such as the fight song, have suffered because the university no longer has a football team.
"I do not go to a lot of sports games since the football team got cut," Acosta said. "I think the songs suffered. There is no central thing to rally around."
Senior Jackey Humphrey-Straub, program coordinator at the Women's Center, said the fight song's demise is more than a loss of sports spirit.
The song is totally dated and sexist, she said. Its fight doesn't apply to this generation.
The fight song, at one time, was to be printed on a cardboard paw print and handed out with Chico State facts for students, but after reading the words the university realized how dated it was, said Kim DuFour, academic adviser.
It was dated in the '60s, and the use of the word "fair" in the song connotes light-skinned beauty, said senior Jessica O'Donnell, director of the Women's Center.
"Our men are definitely not square and our women aren't fair," she said. "College has turned into individual success and development and less for a high-school-spirited camaraderie."
Carter thinks it would be cool if all students knew the songs, but some things are more important, she said.
"I feel like Chico is more school spirit about being Chico State students than spirited about sports," Carter said. "Even though they give out free tickets (and) we are a second-division school, people have better things to do."
New traditions
Sports are no longer what binds students to one another, O'Donnell said.
In order to enhance togetherness, students participate in service learning and civic engagement and are actively engaged in society, rather than sit in the stands and cheer, she said.
"Tradition," she said, "isn't always the best."
Jessica Rhynalds can be reached at
jrhynalds@theorion.com
Alma Mater
We proudly sing to thee our alma mater, thy spirit lives immortal, true and strong. Out of our hearts with joyful thanks we offer in praise to thee, a glorious song. Out of our hearts with joyful thanks we offer praises to thee forever.
Beside the creek, beneath the spreading branches in glades of green, where shine the warming rays Chico, you stand, our honored alma mater our voices now to you we proudly raise Chico, to you, oh honored alma mater, we lift our song, our song of hope and praise.
Though far we roam down life's enticing pathway, our thoughts turn back to happy student days, to Kendall's dome, to Trinity's bells sounding, to classes, friends and laughter shared always Chico, to you, oh honored alma mater, we lift our song, our song of hope and praise.
Amen.
Fight Song
Hail to Chico State
She's our dear old alma mater
Where our teams so great
Lead us on to victory
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Where our men are square
And our fair coeds are fairer
Come let us give a cheer
For dear old Chico State
But at Chico State, for the most part, it isn't until graduation that students hear their alma mater, the University Hymn. Although the fight song is more well known and featured at some sports games, it's almost as elusive as the hymn.
The first verse of the University Hymn is sung at graduation and commencement ceremonies, whereas the fight song, important to many alumni, is a fun chant to cheer at basketball and soccer games.
"I heard the fight song once at a soccer game and no one knew what it was, but I knew," junior Shannon Carter said.
Brink of extinction
Many alumni hold the fight song dear to their college experience at Chico State.
Leonard Whitegon is credited with saving the school fight song from extinction, according to the alumni Web site. When music professor and director of bands Royce Tevis came to the university and found the music to the fight song but not the lyrics, Whitegon was able to recite the words from memory.
Tevis said the music department added some fanfare to the fight song in the '60s, but by 2001 it was gone. After contacting alumni, they pieced together the parts and reconstructed it.
Tevis, an alumnus himself, recalls the importance of the fight song at Chico State.
"Everyone would sing the fight song at the games, and the alma mater was sung at the end of every football game whether we won or not," he said. "And then (we'd) sing the fight song again after that."
Whitegon is well known in the alumni office, said alumni and parent relations director Susan Linders-Anderson, who recalls him making an effort to support the Wildcats at basketball games.
"Len sits right down front," Linders-Anderson said. "I think he has a front-row seat reserved. He stands up and waves his arms to get everyone into the song."
Tevis can see why people would consider the fight song dated, he said. He thinks it was from the time of John Philip Sousa.
Fight song sexism and football
Senior Jake Acosta thinks things that build school spirit, such as the fight song, have suffered because the university no longer has a football team.
"I do not go to a lot of sports games since the football team got cut," Acosta said. "I think the songs suffered. There is no central thing to rally around."
Senior Jackey Humphrey-Straub, program coordinator at the Women's Center, said the fight song's demise is more than a loss of sports spirit.
The song is totally dated and sexist, she said. Its fight doesn't apply to this generation.
The fight song, at one time, was to be printed on a cardboard paw print and handed out with Chico State facts for students, but after reading the words the university realized how dated it was, said Kim DuFour, academic adviser.
It was dated in the '60s, and the use of the word "fair" in the song connotes light-skinned beauty, said senior Jessica O'Donnell, director of the Women's Center.
"Our men are definitely not square and our women aren't fair," she said. "College has turned into individual success and development and less for a high-school-spirited camaraderie."
Carter thinks it would be cool if all students knew the songs, but some things are more important, she said.
"I feel like Chico is more school spirit about being Chico State students than spirited about sports," Carter said. "Even though they give out free tickets (and) we are a second-division school, people have better things to do."
New traditions
Sports are no longer what binds students to one another, O'Donnell said.
In order to enhance togetherness, students participate in service learning and civic engagement and are actively engaged in society, rather than sit in the stands and cheer, she said.
"Tradition," she said, "isn't always the best."
Jessica Rhynalds can be reached at
jrhynalds@theorion.com
Alma Mater
We proudly sing to thee our alma mater, thy spirit lives immortal, true and strong. Out of our hearts with joyful thanks we offer in praise to thee, a glorious song. Out of our hearts with joyful thanks we offer praises to thee forever.
Beside the creek, beneath the spreading branches in glades of green, where shine the warming rays Chico, you stand, our honored alma mater our voices now to you we proudly raise Chico, to you, oh honored alma mater, we lift our song, our song of hope and praise.
Though far we roam down life's enticing pathway, our thoughts turn back to happy student days, to Kendall's dome, to Trinity's bells sounding, to classes, friends and laughter shared always Chico, to you, oh honored alma mater, we lift our song, our song of hope and praise.
Amen.
Fight Song
Hail to Chico State
She's our dear old alma mater
Where our teams so great
Lead us on to victory
Rah! Rah! Rah!
Where our men are square
And our fair coeds are fairer
Come let us give a cheer
For dear old Chico State
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