On a brisk October morning, hundreds of DU students waited in anticipation for one of the most notable events on campus: the sale of the first hockey tickets for the season. While the shenanigans during the campout and frozen students standing stiffly in line are constant over the years, this year involved a unique twist: the giveaway of 200 free season tickets by Undergraduate Student Government. This groundbreaking idea can help drastically grow school spirit on campus and similar events must be created in order to grow school spirit and raise attendance at other sports events.

Pioneered by Cam Hickert and Jess Davidson, this initiative to give away free season tickets for hockey has the potential to increase attendance at hockey games and re-engage students in a central part of what makes our school great. Giving away free tickets at the hockey campout breathes new life into this yearly tradition.

As Davidson stated in a brief interview on Oct. 5, by making hockey tickets free, the barriers for students to attend this important part of student life have been lowered, which creates the potential to dramatically increase school spirit.

However, this small idea should be the beginning of a new effort to increase participation in school athletics and grow school spirit on campus. Davidson discussed that the Student Spirit Committee of USG has plans to create events that will build school spirit, such as tailgates during sports events other than lacrosse, and increasing sponsorship of events.

Increasing the number of on campus spirit events is critical towards building a more connected campus and engaged student body. More funding and effort must be made to increase spirit events across campus, which will definitely build a better DU for the future.

Tailgates, pre-game campouts, spirit busses to away games, and special themes or events at games are just a few ways DU could increase attendance and spirit at all athletic events.

USG has developed a tremendous idea that should, and must, expand beyond free tickets and beyond hockey. The DU community can and should rally behind our athletes and is one of the best ways to grow pride in our school. Increasing school spirit starts with one simple event that brings people together, sharing food and good conversation, and watching a riveting game.