A few months ago, Butler was in the midst of a fundraising campaign, and the slogan was something like “what do you love about Butler?” Now, as a graduate of Butler and someone who has worked for the university for five years in June, I clearly am still very passionate about my alma mater. There are a lot of things I love about Butler and with my five year reunion coming up, that’s what got me thinking about this blog entry…

First, let me preface. I can get burned out by my job-I think that’s natural. There’s a lot of travel involved, and at times it can be high stress. However, at the end of the day, I love working for Butler. There’s something to be said for our school, a mid-sized, private university in the middle of the midwest. When I speak with families about Butler, it can be hard not to gush. When I watch Matt Howard play his heart out, our fans yelling and jumping up and down, my heart swells with pride. When I see an amazing performance of the Nutcracker at Clowes Hall or see the band perform the fight song at a football game, I feel so proud to call Butler my alma mater. When I hear about our students winning awards for research, or gaining entry to medical school, law school or some kind of graduate program, I realize just how many great opportunities are available to BU students. When I chat with our student ambassadors who have just given a great tour or chatted with a nice family, I’m reminded constantly that there are really amazing, involved, talented, smart and NICE kids that go to Butler. I know that seems hokey to say, but I couldn’t be prouder of the students we’ve recruited these past four and half years.

I must say, I have Coach Stevens and the basketball team to thank for a resurgence of my school pride. Watching them play their hearts out, beating the odds, the experts, the brackets-it’s a cool thing to watch as a spectator, but even better and more amazing when its YOUR school. OUR school. Our basketball team and their run last year and their success this year has given Butler a national presence and recognition. For that, I’m grateful. I truly believe in our school and its faculty, programs and offerings. Our name recognition wouldn’t be possible without the hoopla surrounding last year (and Saturday’s game against Pitt) but if more students consider Butler because of it, so be it. I’m glad our name is out there, so students can see that a “tiny” (I always want to correct the sportscasters to tell them no, we are actually medium-sized:) school in the midwest has everything you need and want in a college or university.

Like I mentioned, my five year reunion is coming up at this year’s Homecoming. I’m excited, but it also seems so surreal. Is it really possible that I graduated five years ago? When I go back to campus, it seems like yesterday that I was there, and I think that’s one of the greatest parts of Butler. Things have changed a lot since I graduated, but not so much that the feeling I got (you know, the one when you’re looking at schools and you just KNOW it’s the place for you) has changed. It’s still there, and I know it will be there for years and generations to come. I just hope it’s with the team as they compete on Thursday in New Orleans.

To close, for all those still considering Butler, the fight song is below. Learn it and sing along on Thursday, ok?
We’ll sing the Butler war song,
We’ll give a fighting cry;
We’ll fight the Butler battle–
Bulldogs ever do or die.
And in the glow of the victory firelight,
Hist’ry cannot deny
To add a page or two
For Butler’s fighting crew
Beneath the Hoosier sky.