Photos provided by Chase L. Manson ’16. Anthony Gutierrez ’15, Kyle Scheuring ’15 and Michael Ging — Top left: The Mock Trial Team celebrates after a competition. Top right: The band preforms in the Great Hall. Bottom left: The Quidditch team poses after a match. Bottom right: Mr. Paul Olson conducts the Honor Chorale in the chapel

The Issue: School spirit is often defined as participation in extracurricular activities and sports.

Our Stance: All aspects of a school contribute to school spirit.

School spirit on campus has often been defined as those involved in extracurricular activities or those who dress up every Friday to support a sports team.

But it is also true that school spirit is exemplified in every aspect of student life on campus.

From attending football games to working hard in the classroom, there are a variety of ways to show school spirit.

If we look at the example of the Rev. Harry “Dutch” Olivier, S.J., who passed away this last March, one can easily see the impact he had on every Bronco he encountered, athletic or not.

As a teacher and a priest on campus, he showed more school spirit and humanity than most others will through their lives.

Attending almost all the football games, he encouraged the players to do their best on the field. He also rarely missed a band concert or other student performance.

Filling both those roles as an educator and a man of God, Fr. Olivier embodied well-roundedness, wisdom and compassion.

These qualities help paint a picture of the ideal Brophy student, one who shows true school spirit.

Through Fr. Olivier, we find a true meaning behind school spirit: being well-rounded, encouraging others to follow their passions and pushing yourself to do what you love.

He showed us that there are more ways to show spirit than simply participating in a large number of school activities, though that is important.

A student can show equal amounts of school spirit as someone cheering on a football game by participating in artistic activities, such as writing, playing an instrument or acting in a play.

Everyone has the potential to show their appreciation and love for their school in a variety of ways, and all of these different activities have the same impact: They contribute to a positive school atmosphere.

As students, we would do well to remember this basic fact.

So, if you truly want to call yourself a school-spirited Bronco, don’t just go to the football games and not participate elsewhere on campus.

Likewise, you cannot stay home every Friday night in the fall and only participate in concerts.

Cheer on the men’s choir, go to a band concert, encourage the mock trial team at a tournament, spectate a quidditch match.

Go just go out. Encourage others. Be that man for others that the school wants you to be.

As Fr. Olivier taught us, school spirit is simply about going out and encouraging others in all aspects of campus life.

If we truly want to call ourselves “school-spirited,” then we’ll need to demonstrate this type of zeal so that future Brophy students can continue to be exemplary.

By Austin Norville ’15 & Cameron M. Bray ’16