The school spirit among students is at an all-time high compared to previous years due to the newly established football team and the progress of KSU.
Alexandra Strotz, an alum who graduated in 2014, recalls that there was not very much school spirit during her four years at KSU. The black and gold apparel was not as widespread among the students, and the “love” for their college was more so a “like” at the time.
This trend somewhat continued among the upper class at KSU as they entered the university. For many of the current juniors and seniors, Kennesaw State University was not their first choice. Many joined the owl nation due to its affordability and convenient location. Throughout the years as it progressed, however, many of the students found themselves falling in love with the place they once considered a back-up choice.
For students like Stephanie Marie Brassard, a senior majoring in mathematics, she now believes that KSU is a perfect fit. Brassard said she fell in love with the diversity and the people of KSU. Most of the students at KSU give the school a familiar sense since they come from neighboring cities and towns. However, roughly 9 percent of students are international students who have come from all over the world. The diversity among students has continued to increase as the exchange program at KSU strengthens.
She also appreciates the fact that KSU is not labeled as anything. Therefore, Brassard said it allows the students to make KSU whatever they want.
“If you want to make it a party school or you want to make it an academic school or if you want to get into a club, you can.” Brassard said. “You can get involved in what you’d like and make it what you want.”
In fact, KSU offers around 170 student organizations to get involved in and there are new ones that spring up every day. The club TEDx Kennesaw, for example, is a new club that offers the chance for students to watch past and live Ted Talks to then spark intellectual discussion among students. Aside from this club, there are also many religious clubs, Greek organizations, academic clubs and interest clubs.
In addition to this, the increasing population at KSU and campus expansions have progressed KSU. In 2014, KSU witnessed its biggest expansion as it had 32,000 students enrolled. The increased population has made KSU one of the biggest universities in Georgia.
To accommodate the growing population and to stay current, KSU also continues to renovate. The Dr. Betty L. Siegel Student Recreation and Activities Center was the latest renovation for students to enjoy. It is a three story facility with the latest equipment, a rock climbing wall, a basketball court and much more.
Although there are many factors that contribute to the growing love students have for KSU, it seems as though much of the credit should be given to the football team.
“When I had started going there, they had told us that there was going to be a football team in the near future,” Strotz said. “It was always something I was excited about even if it was going to be like years down the road.”
The football team played their first game on Sept. 5 2015 against East Tennessee State and won. Although this is the team’s first year playing, they are already in the Big South Conference, facing off against the six big south schools. Not only are they playing against big schools, but they are also winning. Out of the eight schools they have played so far, they have lost against two.
Now that the football team is established and winning, the students are more able to take pride in their college. They no longer have to root for the University of Georgia team or Georgia Tech team. They can instead root for their own home team.
“I’ve gone to the games and my fiance is known as the biggest fan,” Brassard said. “It definitely gives everybody a lot more pride in their school.”
This increased school spirit can be seen through the heightened apparel sales at the KSU bookstore.
“We have definitely gotten a spike because of football this year.” Paul Oliphantt, the Associate Director of the bookstore said.
Oliphantt said that the sales are certainly correlated with football as the store sees increased sales closer to game days. Because of this, the bookstore has decided to open a store in the stadium and has also expanded the apparel section in the regular bookstore.
This football love has translated into general KSU love Oliphantt said. The KSU decals, notebooks and other KSU merchandise sales have grown as well. Oliphantt believes that this athletic hype could potentially help the other sports at KSU as well. The football lovers may become big enough KSU fans to then cheer on the baseball or basketball team.
The football team has also seemed to rally the support of the Kennesaw community. Members of the community who did not give KSU a second thought are now embracing the school as their own.
“You can tell that there is passion for this KSU football team,” Jarel Canty, an involved community member since 2010, said. “The entire community has wrapped their arms around this team so everyone wants to be a part of it.”
Canty even admitted that it has made made him change his views on the school itself.
“My first impression was that KSU is a podunk school, but I was wrong.” Canty said. “After doing research, I found that with the acquisition of Southern Poly, that KSU is the second largest institution in the state of Georgia. “
