School spirit: Then and now

It feels like school spirit is at an all time low. Taking a look back into the 2000s here at UHS, not only was the year different, the atmosphere was too. Assistant Principal Christine Rinkenberger and Spanish teacher Zachary Sutton would know, as they both attended school here during those times.

Could the reasoning behind the lack of school spirit be social media?

“I think social media has really changed the way students interact with each other, for better or for worse. I think that just adds to the drama part of it,” said Rinkenberger.

Sutton also remembers social interactions being different. “One big difference is we used to have more than one assembly like in the room together, either in the auditorium or in the big gym,” he said.

More consistency in sports teams from year to year added to this atmosphere as well.

“Having a football team, a varsity football team and a varsity football season was a big difference. For school spirit…people got dressed up the day of the game, wore orange and black, and whatnot. That’s the only big one that stands out to me,” added Sutton.

Could it be a sign of the times?

“I think that kids show spirit in different ways,” said Rinkenberger. “When I was in high school there was a larger showing and kind of a more traditional cheer section for basketball games and football games. I do think kids still go, it’s just maybe a different experience,” she added.

Perhaps there is a way to bridge the gap between then and now and really make school spirit shine.