Last week, a writer suggested that the college use the fight song to promote campus unity. As an alumnus who did learn the fight song, I have no desire to subject the current student body to this clumsy text. If we are going to direct our energy to teaching students our college songs, we should teach them our alma mater instead.

In olden days (6 years ago), the college choir’s annual Homecoming tradition included an informal performance in front of the sports complex. Among the repertoire was the fight song. As we fumbled our way through the song, our cringing at “let’s unite anew, come on” and chuckling at “till the unjust few are gone” were as integral to the tradition as the song itself. With the opening of the chapel, the Homecoming traditions have changed, rightfully so, and the choir now sings other, better repertoire. The tune is catchy and original, but the lyrics are not. Let them rest in peace.

But in addition to fight songs, there is another deep tradition in American collegiate sports, and that is the collective singing of the alma mater after games. At most universities, the football team comes to the student section and all the fans sing their alma mater together. Here at Hillsdale, the loudspeakers blare out “Celebrate” immediately following the final whistle, and the handful of students who did come to the game simply disperse. If we wish to unify campus through song, let’s begin by changing that.

The alma mater is part of all the major college ceremonies, but few people know it outside the choir and even fewer sing along. Teaching a song to new freshmen is great, so let’s select a worthwhile song that will make them proud to be at Hillsdale.