Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Jotthe Kannappan: On Band Run

We all remember that terrifying moment our freshman year, when we walked out of our dorms, and there was the Leland Stanford Jr. University Marching Band in full form. We were new to this campus, unaware of its traditions and unprepared for its culture. Literally and figuratively, we were told to run with it.

Today, many frosh had the same experience with the LSJUMB, and as an upperclassman, I can't help but feel just a teensy bit bad for them, simply because they got themselves into a tradition that involved both physical exercise and mob mentality on their first night here.

But the other 99.99% of me loves everything about it. New frosh get a great glimpse of campus culture, and the event is a bonding experience. Of course, it is made four thousand times more phenomenal because the LSJUMB is involved. I love the band because it is a reminder to students, alumni, and faculty alike that though we are a prestigious university, we are NOT presumptuous. We love the moment, and don't mind being a bit crazy sometimes.

Though I love that band run occurs on the first night the frosh are here, part of me also wishes there was another band run at the end of the year. After all, during this band run, freshmen are cheering for dorms they don't truly have a huge connection to yet. It would be extremely interesting to see how different the two events might be if there was a HUGE band run at the end of the year.

Nonetheless, band run will always be one of my best memories, and the best introduction to my four years here that I could have ever imagined. 

No comments: