School spirit, or school pride, is a distinctly American thing. The branded clothing, team colors, mascots, cheers, tailgates, football and academic prestige — these are all big parts of what make American universities what they are.
So what exactly is school spirit? And is it a good thing?
School spirit is the emotional support for one’s educational institution. It’s the mindset of, “We’re all in this together, and we’re on the same team.” It creates a bond between students, faculty, staff and even people that have no connection with the university but still enjoy following the university’s sports teams.
It brings a distinct atmosphere to the campus by creating a sense of belongingness and unity. It’s human tendency to have the desire to be part of an exclusive community, and school spirit is a natural expression of that.
In contrast, students in England are proud to attend their universities, but at the end of the day to them it’s just a university. American students have a sense of pride in the heritage and identity of their university that seems lost in English students.
This is the case not only in England, but most of the world. And though not all American college students feel this sense of school pride, especially those who live off campus, it is still prominent in the majority of student bodies.
What sets American universities apart from other countries in terms of school spirit is football — the American sport of choice. There is an immense emphasis on football in American, largely because of the nationwide interest in intercollegiate football, so the sport is a vital catalyst for school spirit.
Why do American universities make football so central to their identities? Sociologists at the American Sociological Association offer an explanation on why American universities are so football-obsessed: Intercollegiate football is a system for marking and distributing status among universities. This status is important for universities beyond the realm of athletics — it affects their prestige. But even status takes a backseat to money, and it should be noted that college football isn’t just fun and games — it’s a business that generated a combined revenue of $3.4 billion in 2013 and continues to rise every year.
The school spirit starts to become unhealthy when esteem becomes a crutch, or a substitute for the student’s identity. A student isn’t defined by the university they attend. Maybe school spirit is the method for universities to make more money or gain higher attendance, or maybe it’s just a piece of America’s personality. Whatever the case, in moderation the school spirit can be a unifying force that brings people together. It’s good to celebrate with friends and colleagues, and it’s good to have something to cheer for.
Andrew Brand can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @theandrewbrand