[quote]Elon students are in the midst of an identity crisis.[/quote]

When we think of school spirit, we may think of bleachers filled with energetic students echoing chants with their school mascot painted on their chests and faces.

But as much

as we talk about the strength of our close-knit community here at Elon University, we as students do a poor job of actively supporting that community. School spirit, living “the maroon and gold life,” whatever you want to call it — it isn’t exactly noticeable on campus.

Why is school spirit so hard to find at Elon? It’s because Elon students are in the midst of an identity crisis.

And we don’t mean the Republican or Democrat, gay or straight, Team Edward or Team Jacob kind of identity crisis. From the moment we arrive at Elon, we are bombarded with different images and ideas of what our years at Elon are supposed to represent. And while most students find meaning and purpose through their studies and extracurriculars, there remains no consensus on what symbol all Elon students are meant to rally behind.

From Freshman Convocation to commencement, Elon students are instilled with the idea that they are acorns that will grow into saplings, not Phoenix rising from the ashes.

It is time that we let the Phoenix out of its cage in an effort to revamp school spirit.

Some of you may be wondering: Is school spirit really a big deal anymore? Who cares if you don’t show up to a football game or wear a Phoenix shirt to class? Why should I have to pay extra to get tickets to the spring show? To that point, we agree with you. There’s much more to community and school spirit than just showing pride for pride’s sake. But maintaining a high-spirited atmosphere is crucial for making our school an enjoyable environment for students to thrive and achieve in.

This simple yet effective concept is often overlooked at Elon, but can mean the difference between just being at school and being at our school.

One reason school spirit is so poorly demonstrated is that everywhere around us we do not see the Phoenix rising, but instead the Phoenix that sits in its nest — in Alumni Gym, in Rhodes Stadium or on the baseball field — a symbol you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.

You won’t get renewed community support without indoctrinating students from the very beginning with the central idea that we are all Phoenix. But in order for that to occur, it has to mean something to be a Phoenix.

Another explanation for the lack of enthusiasm is the mindset that many of us adopt once we cross Elon’s threshold. School spirit often gets cast aside in the midst of our desire to earn as many credits as possible while simultaneously balancing extracurricular commitments and a social life. We often get so caught up bolstering our resumes for life beyond college that we forsake the opportunity to involve ourselves in the local community. The university certainly realizes this, and tries to appeal to every college student’s weakness for free food and other incentives to evoke more student involvement in Elon events.

But it is not enough to sell T-shirts, send emails, put up flyers or give students incentives to attend Elon events and cheer on the Phoenix. While these ideas are great and should continue, relying on material incentives will not change the day-to-day culture of Elon or revitalize school spirit.

Head football coach Jason Swepson acknowledged the impact the lack of community support has on Elon’s athletic performance this season.

“We just didn’t create our own energy. We had to,” he said in an interview following Elon’s loss to Furman University on Oct. 27. “There was no one in the stands. We had to create our own energy and hopefully we can learn from it and move forward. It felt like a coffin out there and it didn’t help.”

Students attend games when students believe they are part of the team, that our pride and school spirit is somewhat intertwined with the success of our athletics. And believe it or not, athletes perform better when they know they have the support of their peers.

We understand we are not a large university and do not place as much emphasis on school spirit as we do on academics.

But having school spirit is about more than just a mascot or a rallying cry. It’s an idea that is rooted in the foundation of Elon University. It’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.

There are several simple ways you can demonstrate your school spirit here at Elon: wear your maroon and gold once a week, attend a home game or sponsored concert, support campus wide competitions or involve yourself in events like Homecoming or the Spring Show.

School spirit memorializes our Elon experience — not just for us but also for future Elon students. Avid school spirit often draws additional alumni support, which translates to a better college experience for all of us.

But most of all, school spirit gives our college years meaning: it gives our victories and defeats context, reminds us of our past and points us toward our future.

For some of us, graduation day will arrive before we know it, and as students, we should learn to appreciate our school before we leave for good.