Last weekend I traveled to my alma mater Purdue University to attend a football game for the first time in many years. It was a trip down memory lane for me. We arrived early and had the opportunity to walk around campus. As we did, memories flowed from 50 years ago when I was an undergraduate student there. While much had changed about the campus, physically and culturally much had remained the same. The weekend “back home again in Indiana” caused me to reflect upon the current state of our broader community. And, as usual it brought out my optimism about our future together.
Common History and Culture
Purdue, like most college campuses has a culture and history of its own. By the time they graduate, most students come to understand that history and appreciate the culture. As they venture into the “real world” they carry both with them. The unique history and culture are what create a bond among the alumni regardless of their course of study or the years spent on campus.
At the football game, most fans were dressed in our school colors of black and gold. Everyone was a part of the community and cheering for “our” team. From the current students to the older alumni like me, we knew the words to our fight song. Hail Purdue! Singing together was an expression of continuity and connection.
Hail, hail to old Purdue!
all hail to our old gold and black!
Hail, hail to old Purdue!
our friendship may she never lack.
Ever grateful, ever true,
thus we raise our song anew
Of the days we’ve spent with you,
all hail our own Purdue!
Sharing Folklore
Football game weekends give us reason for reunions. On campuses across the country, football fans 
gather at tailgates, lunches and dinners, to share stories. Time in the hallowed halls of our university created a common history. They share stories of football games won and lost, parties attended, legendary professors and courses difficult and easy. Campus folklore.
In life after college, that common history allows for acceptance and the ability to start conversations about the future. The stories may be different, but the lessons learned are often the same. When we realize that our stories have a common theme, the connection emerges. Together we all carry the pride of our victories and heroes. Together we cradle the wisdom gained from our struggles.
We came to the school with the common goal of graduation and to become forever a Boilermaker. Along the way we learned and accepted a culture summarized by the motto of the basketball team, “Play Hard.” Diplomas on our walls are confirmation that we did. College was a place where we sought to top off the lessons in our backpacks. The acceptance of where we have been and who we have become has made us a community. The common experiences, triumphs and struggles have made our community strong.
Our Friendship May She Never Lack
With pride we wear shirts and hats displaying the name of our school and our logo. These are signs to others of our common bond so we may greet each other with the well-known “Boiler Up” and responsive “Hammer Down”. Whoever we are, wherever we live, whatever we do, we recognize that we have the same roots. We will be forever joined and guided by the words we sing, “Our friendship may she never lack…”
Building a History
Despite a losing football season last year, on this game day the stands were nearly full. The student
sections of the stadium were crowded and enthusiastic. Students had come from all corners of the country and world to be a part of this community. Black and gold overalls projected a picture of loyalty and optimism. Values that are repeated in yet another verse we sing together, “ever grateful ever true, thus we raise our song anew… all hail our own Purdue”. Students carry a sense of optimism for the current game as well as the future. They are building a shared history and becoming part of a shared culture. The foundations of the loyalty they will cherish for a lifetime. By the way, this same phenomenon is happening on college campuses across the country.
I Am An American
For six decades at every football game, before the playing of the national anthem the public address announcer has recited the same poem entitled I Am An American. The words go, “I am an American. That’s the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail or sweep them across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So, whenever you speak them, speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American.” It reminds us that we are all part of something even larger than our beloved alma mater.
And so on this warm September day in West Lafayette, Indiana I wondered as I often do. If we can rally around our schools, why can’t we rally around our communities and our country? We share the same colors of red, white and blue. We share a fight song called the Star Spangled Banner. We share a common set of beliefs including life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness and that all men are created equal. We share a long and common history.
It will take honest conversations to understand our shared history, our shared experiences and to reinforce our belief in our culture. It will require work to agree on a vision for the future. But it is doable, if we choose. My dream is maybe that one bright Saturday afternoon we could all come to tailgates across the country to share a meal and have a conversation. To talk openly about our past, our present and our future on this campus we call America. To understand that our stories have a similar theme. To admit our mistakes and learn from them; to forgive our transgressions. Perhaps in those conversations we could come to understand and appreciate our diversity; and then find that overwhelming sense of what we have in common. Perhaps we could find the optimism, loyalty and desire to all cheer for the same team. The United States.
