A BILL PROMOTING NEW SPIRIT AND TRADITION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE

AUTHORED BY: KurtisFrizzell, Jeffrey Lamb, Jeremy Bozarth, AmyPinney

SPONSORED BY: Carrie Mattingly, Lauren Stern, Caleb Piper, Paige Thompson

BACKGROUND:

Many potential students are first exposed to the University of Louisville through Cardinal Athletics. This bill proposes twelve traditions that are for the first time being presented as a package, a joint venture meant to strengthen our campus pride and boost student participation in athletic events as well as on campus activities. The traditions established by this bill will live on our campus for decades, bring an immediate change to the campus culture and strengthen the bonds between our students as Cardinals.

SECTION 1. The Student Senate at the University of Louisville finds that:

  1. The University of Louisville will benefit from an increase in school spirit and tradition;
  2. The creation of new traditions is necessary to enhance school spirit.

SECTION 2. Be it enacted by the Student Senate of the University of Louisville that:

2A.The “Cardinal Captains” be created as the official student spirit team of UofL;

1.That the Cardinal Captains be comprised of 25 students that achieve their status through an application and interview process run out of the Office of Civic Engagement, Leadership, and Service. The Athletics Office will have at least 2 representatives present at the interviews;

2.The Office of Civic Engagement, Leadership, and Service will be responsible for the recruitment, training and organization of Cardinal Captains.

3.Cardinal Captains will be responsible for working a minimum of 2 Athletic Events per semester to help with student sign ins;

4.Cardinal Captains will be responsible for one non-traditional sport spirit section assigned by a combination of their interest and the Office of Civic Engagement, Leadership, and Service needs. This will include but not be limited to the following sports: Women’s Basketball, Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s Soccer, Women’s Soccer, Softball, Baseball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Track and Field, and Swimming and Diving;

5.Cardinal Captains will assist the Athletic marketing department in the distribution of any materials before and after the games during Football and Basketball;

6.Cardinal Captains will assist the Student Athletic Director with Football/Basketball student ticket pick up in the Fall;

7.Cardinal Captains will collectively be responsible for planning theme nights for all football and men’sbasketball games with the Athletic Marketing Department, as soon as the schedule is public;

8.Cardinal Captains must go to all home football and men’sbasketball games, as an official University Sanctioned Event, unless a valid excuse is given to the Coordinator of Student Leadership in the Office of Civic Engagement, Leadership, and Service;

9.As payment for the service of being a part of the Cardinal Captains, the Cardinal Captains will get season tickets for football and basketball in the best part of the Undergraduate Section, known as “The Nest”;

10.Additionally, two Major Captains will be paid a stipend of $500 each to help coordinate the entirety of the Cardinal Captains;

11. There will be no limit to the number of years you can be a Cardinal Captain. However, a student must re-apply every year and be re-selected.

2B. The University will start the “Don’t Step on the Bird” Campaign beginning in the Spring of 2012;

  1. The “Don’t Step on the Bird” events will advertise games for all athletic teams;
  2. Events will have two to four Cardinal Captains stand around the cardinal head at the SAC ramp and encourage others to not step on the bird;
  3. A poster or banner will be hanging in the area to advertise the athletic event that is being promoted through that day’s Don’t Step on the Bird event;
  4. Thetwo to four Cardinal Captains will commit to chalking the athletic event time, location, and all other necessary information in the surrounding area;
  5. Cardinal Captains will be required to “protect” the bird from 11-1pm on the assigned date;
  6. Cardinal Captains should be wearing UofL, SGA, or the sponsored athletic team’s apparel;
  7. Cardinal Captains will not be required to attend during inclement weather conditions (raining, snowing, extreme temperatures, etc.);
  8. Cardinal Captains will draft a schedule of events to be advertised and submit the schedule to the Student Government Top 4 for approval.

2C. The University will begin “The Spirit Feather” tradition;

  1. The Spirit Feather is a large Red feather given to the person with the most Spirit;
  2. The Spirit Feather will be competed for at every Football andMen’s Basketball Home game;
  3. The Spirit Feather will be held by the winning person throughout the next home Football or Men’sBasketball game;
  4. The winning person will be decided upon on the basis of a vote of the Cardinal Captains at halftime;
  5. The Cardinal Captains shall confer with each other and find the UofL student with the best UofL attire, and he/she will be awarded the Spirit Feather;
  6. Every winner shall have their picture taken and it will be sent to the Louisville Cardinal as well as posted on the official SGA website;
  7. The student that receives the feather shall turn in an ID to ensure the feather is returned;
  8. After the feather is returned, the student will receive a pin or other memento if funding is not found to provide an individual pin for each student.

2D. The University will begin “The CARDS in Flight” tradition;

  1. The University Pep Band will lead students from the tailgate area of the Old Cardinal Stadium;
  2. A tailgate will be held at the departing location where students can sign the Spirit Wall, paint their bodies and play games;
  3. Fireworks will be used to signal the departure from campus, with the announcement “Calling all CARDS!” to be the official starting point;
  4. The CARDS in Flight will take place before the CARDS March from Cardinal Tunnel;
  5. The Pep Band will lead students to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, ending their march at the Cardinal Tunnel;
  6. Students who choose to tailgate may meet up with the CARDS in Flight to help escort them to Cardinal Tunnel;
  7. When the CARDS in Flight arrive at the Cardinal Tunnel fireworks should be set off signaling their arrival;
  8. Cardinal Captains are responsible for organizing CARDS in Flight.

2E.The University will begin the “Blackout for Charity” tradition;

  1. All students will be asked to wear black during a home football/basketball game;
  2. The Cardinal Captains will be charged to find sponsor organizations to donate X amount of money for every student wearing black during a blackout gamethat enters through the student gate;
  3. The donated money will be given to a charity of choice decided on by the Cardinal Captains;
  4. The Cardinal Captains will be responsible for informing students of the blackout, donating organization, and charity.

2F. The University will begin the “Make Your Mark on UofL” tradition;

  1. During the cap and gown pick-up prior to commencement, a space be provided in the Red Barn for graduating students to “make their mark”;
  2. This display will be known as the “Senior Wall”;
  3. The “Senior Wall” will be moved to the location of commencement for graduating students, friends, and family to see;
  4. A picture will be taken with the University President, Provost, the Cardinal Bird, and the “Senior Wall” which will be turned into a post card and mailed out to all students graduating at that time;

2G. The University will begin the “Spirit Wall” tradition;

  1. The Spirit Wall is a place for students to write encouraging messages to our student athletes;
  2. The Spirit Wall will be used as a platform for students to get involved in the athletics process;
  3. The execution and operation of the Spirit Wall shall be overseen by Cardinal Captains;
  4. The Spirit Wall will be displayed at the “Don’t Step on the Bird” Campaign events;
  5. The Spirit Wall will be taken down and displayed at the event for which it is supporting.

2H.The University will begin the “Cardinal Gear Day” initiative;

  1. Cardinal Gear Day will be funded out of Cardinal Captains’ budget under the Student Government Association;
  2. The Cardinal Captains will advertise prizes to those students who can sing Alma Mater, All Hail, and do the CARDS Cheer;
  3. Students who can sufficiently do each of the requirements will receive a prize;
  4. Prizes should be UofL Spirit apparel and may include, but are not limited to Cardinal helmet, red cape, t-shirts, shakers, foam hands etc.

2I. The University will begin the “End of the Game Songs” tradition;

  1. At the end of every Home Men’sBasketball and Football game the Pep Band will play Alma Mater and My Old Kentucky Home;
  2. The Cardinal Captains will encourage the student section to stay until the end and sing along.

2J. The University will begin the “Official Homecoming Pep Rally” event;

  1. A planned bonfire will be made at a safe campus location;
  2. Cardinal Captains will be in charge of the Bonfire and provide food for students;
  3. Have the current Football Coach and members of the Football team appear to rally support for the game;
  4. The bonfire will take place one day before the Homecoming Football game;
  5. The Cardinal Captains are responsible for inviting the Homecoming Court;
  6. Game items, such as UofL shakers, would be made available for students to take to the game the next day;
  7. This event will be organized in conjunction with the Student Activities Board.

2K. The University will begin the “Festival Seating” campaign;

  1. UofL Student Government Association shall work with UofL Athletics to establish Festival Seating;
  2. Festival Seating will be located in the Student section at the Football and Basketball games;
  3. Festival Seating is a first come-first served area, available to all ticket-holding students;

2L. The University will begin “The Bucket Fan Page”;

1. SGA shall organize and execute a website dedicated to the KFC Yum! Center or The Bucket, the sister arena to Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium or The Oven.

2. The fan page shall be dedicated to engaging students and getting them excited and involved in UofL Athletics.

3. The fanpage shall be a platform for UofL Athletics as well as SGA to make announcements, advertise events and connect to students.

4. The fan page shall introduce students to the Cardinal Majors.

5. Students will have the opportunity to upload photos.

6. The Bucket Fan Page shall be a space where students can learn more about SGA and UofL Athletics;

7. The two Cardinal Majors shall be the fan page administrators.

SECTION 3. That the funding specified in this bill is stated as if the contingency budget passes in the University budget. However, if the contingency budget does not pass then the Cardinal Captains will be allowed to apply for CPC funding and ask SAB and SGA for money to fund the events. Additionally, the Student Government Advancement Officer will be allowed to raise money for the Cardinal Captains fund.

SECTION 4. Upon its passage, a copy of this Bill shall be sent by the Services Vice President to President Ramsey, Provost Willinghanz, Dean of Students Mardis, University of Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich, Vice President of Student Affairs Tom Jackson, and Director of Intramural Sports Dale Ramsey.