By Kyle Jorrey
Sports Editor
You have to give it to the Convocation Office. By assigning a grade to Convo attendance, they made Convo credits a valuable commodity, and in doing so, increased the desire of students to attend events whereby they could obtain them.
According to the Pepperdine website, the goal of the Convocation series is to “provide various opportunities to hear and discuss Christian perspectives on personal and contemporary issues as well as provide avenues for Christian worship. Convocation also provides enjoyable opportunities to gather as a community.”
It is the second part of that statement that allows students to gain Convo credit for something like a concert by the band “Wide Awake” as they did at the end of last semester. So in the name of “enjoyable opportunities to gather as community,” I pose the question: why not give Convo credit for attendance to major sporting events?
It’s not a secret that athletic success is something all universities strive for, just as they strive for academic success in the classroom. Winning sports programs can bring their respective schools national attention, a heightened reputation, and money from the sales of merchandise and tickets.
Don’t think that athletic victories are very important in the overall scheme of a university? Just ask the administrators from schools like Notre Dame and Nebraska, both of which rely heavily on the winning traditions of their sports programs to attract students and donations from alumni.
Here at Pepperdine, the quality of our sports programs is a credit both to the athletic department and administration, who have made it a top priority to seek out the kind of players and coaches that allows us to compete, and win, at a national level. Why not help out even more by working to fill the stands at key sporting events through the promise of Convo credit?
Anyone who’s attended a major game at the Firestone Field when the seats were full knows the experience is as an effective a community builder as there is. The atmosphere in the student section can be electric, allowing fans that may have never met otherwise to share in a celebratory high-five or take part in a heckling session directed at the opposing team.
Many a bond is created sharing in the adrenaline-filled excitement of an upset victory over a top-ranked opponent or the blowout of a local rival, often between students who barely know each other outside of the gym. I know I still say hello to some of the fans I met while charging the court of the Los Angeles Forum after Pepperdine’s basketball last-minute upset of the University of Southern California Trojans.
If the Convocation office wants to hold events that encourage community gathering, something this university sorely needs, they should look to adding major sport events to their printable schedule.
Games—like when men’s water polo took on Stanford earlier this year—or when women’s soccer faced defending national champs Santa Clara last weekend (Pepperdine won both games). And especially when our basketball teams take on the much-hated Gonzaga Bulldogs — these are the instances when increased fan support could make the difference between winning and losing, and they are worthy of Convo credit.
All they would need to do is set up a few scanners that would scan students in at the start of matches, and then again at the half and after the end of game. Sure, some students could act dishonestly and just show up to get credit and leave, but that’s something that happens at a lot of Convocation events, whether the Convo office acknowledges it or not.
For the most part, I think student would respond positively to the policy, opting to take part in the entertainment of an important game, rather just show up for credit. The thought is that as long as Convo credit got them through the door, the attraction of the game would keep them in their seats.
It’s time for the Convo office to open its mind to the idea of major sporting events as Convo credit. While they might not make students smarter or more spiritual, they do help this university come together as a family (as it is advertised), while aiding one of its most important assets —our sports teams.
It’s time to help, as Head Men’s basketball coach Paul Westphal said last year at a Wednesday Convo, “Fill the Fieldhouse.” Both the school and the Convo office have a great opportunity to do so, why not take advantage?
October 31, 2002