How to Create a Student Section

This one goes out to all of you small school students. You know, the ones that don't have a division one basketball team or a school that will provide a free t-shirt for you every game.

Do you ever get jealous of those kids you see on ESPN when their basketball team is playing? All the schools have them; rowdy student sections. Michigan has all their students in yellow shirts, Notre Dame has everyone in green, Syracuse dresses them all in orange. The best student section of all time resides in Duke with the Cameron Crazies, where the students camp out hours before games just to get a spot in the arena, and are so uniform in their cheers throughout the game.

To be a part of something like that must be a lot of fun. So if it's so fun for them, why can't it be done on the smaller level? If you get a bunch of college students in one area at one time and tell them to be rowdy, odds are they'll be rowdy. So I present my guide to forming a student section:

• Everybody must wear either A) the same color, or B) mix of school colors
• Where to sit? Across from the benches, surrounding the cheer leaders and pep band.
• Get jam packed together and become one.
  
• Make noise when the opposing team shoots foul shots.
• When the visiting team is being introduced there are many things you could do. My favorite is just not watching by either A) turning your back, or B) reading a newspaper)
• Remain standing until the opposing team scores their first points in either half.
• Actually follow and participate in the cheers from the cheerleaders (or pep band).

But how do we get the students of a school together to show their pride and represent themselves? Free shirts always work. But why don't fraternities and sororities get their members together and go to a game together? This is a great way to bond with your brothers and sisters and showing your pride in your school at the same time! I wish people would realize that the likes of Heiges Field House would be exploding if they actually got people to show up. It's embarrassing when the visiting team has more fans supporting them than the home team's students.

So I will make this announcement to all the students of Shippensburg University. I will unofficially declare Saturday, February 26 to be School Spirit Day. The main event will be the basketball double-header in Heiges Field House from 1pm and 4:30pm. I challenge all students to pack Heiges as the teams fight for their playoff lives. Did you know the men's team is fighting for the final playoff spot? Don't you think they would love the support of their students? Get your roommate, your hall mates, your fraternity brothers, sorority sisters, your friends from across campus. Everybody dress in red, white or blue (crazy hair and face paint is purely optional). And pack Heiges Field House as much you can. Jump up and down, be crazy, be nuts. Cheer with the cheerleaders. Sing along with the pep band.

And most importantly, have fun.