The DePauw administration is clearly and understandably concerned about our campus' drinking culture. While I tend to argue DePauw's drinking is nothing abnormal compared to other universities, sitting near the top of the "Party School" list isn't exactly a dream PR situation. Our university obviously has chosen to distance itself from the arbitrary Princeton Review list. But can our campus identity and our real drinking culture coexist?
Enter the Fluttering Duck, a longstanding restaurant and bar located on our campus. When alumni return to DePauw, they go to the Duck. When parents visit, they go to the Duck. Want to hear some good jazz music on a Thursday? You will probably end up at the Duck.
This is what bothers me about our university owned bar and restaurant. A stranger to DePauw could spend considerable amount of time at the Duck, and if you asked him whose campus he was on, he may not be able to tell you.
Look around the walls. You won't see a DePauw football jersey. You won't see any indication that our women's basketball team has won a national championship and are well on their way to winning another. You won't see a front page of this newspaper or find Monon Bell memorabilia anywhere. Tiger Pride is painfully absent from one of our most well known establishments.
Consider eateries and bars on other campuses. Most are brimming with school colors and historic relics that allude to the rich tradition of the local university. What you do see at the Duck are beer advertisements, both neon and otherwise. Seems a tad ironic.
Why can we not create a shrine to, well, ourselves? The hall of fame, and various other nods to our athletes are nice. But the average student never has a reason to walk through the second floor of the Lilly center or the upper balcony at the indoor track. I understand the university's reluctance to put its stamp on a bar, but I think they can relax a little.
If Tiger Pride is ever going to be anything more than a PR slogan, there needs to be a physical representation. Our athletes work hard, and have achieved some incredible things. Perhaps instead of general mentions on social media, we give those accomplishments a physical space to be seen and appreciated by the entire student body. For the Duck, DePauw's only on-campus bar, a Budweiser sign just isn't cutting it.
- Droddy is a senior from Indianapolis majoring in communication.