"Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open." -Albus Dumbledore
On Monday, DePauw University and Wabash College joined Freedom Indiana, stating together their intent to oppose HJR6, a proposal to amend the Indiana constitution to ban same-sex marriages.
While it is awesome both colleges are willing to take such a stance, the partnership is even more important.
Since 1890, DePauw and Wabash have fought it out on the football field. Nowadays, it's for the glory of a bell and significant bragging rights.
The week leading up to the big game involves bell kidnapping attempts (and successes), vandalized campus structures and written or verbal bashing. It is hard to be friends with the school that has spray painted its name on the columns of Roy O. West Library.
President Brian Casey and Wabash President Gregory Hess tried, however, and proved to both student bodies that the Wabash/DePauw rivalry can do more than win a game; it can create a partnership that takes action toward the ideals both schools hold in common.
Wabash and DePauw clearly have differences: DePauw's student body is more than twice the size of Wabash's and has an entire second demographic (ahem, women).
My Wabash friends care much more about the rivalry than I do. Crawfordsville has over 16,000 residents, Greencastle just over 10,000, and so on and so forth.
Yet both DePauw and Wabash are heavily greek oriented, academically rigorous, privatized, proud of their history, have delicious local ice cream, produce a strong alumni base and offer life lessons to students. Now, they are both willing to speak out, together, for issues in the state.
If the Little Giants can join the Tigers in working for other ideals we hold together, imagine how much more we could do. Think of how the Be Great Today 5K, Relay for Life or Special Olympics could grow.
New things just sparking in the minds of students could become great through the cooperation of DePauw and Wabash.
While it is fun to have an intense competition in sports, a partnership in everything else can accomplish so much more than a rivalry. Working with Wabash will only advance the causes we share, and make more of an impact than appearing on ESPN.
As the Monon Bell Classic week approaches, we need to remember among the fun and games that what our schools can accomplish together, not apart, is more important than who can display a red and gold bell.
As long as rivals are willing to come together when issues demand it, we can make a difference. And a difference, not a football game, is what we will be remembered for.
- Sausser is a sophomore English Writing major from Indianapolis Ind.