Toomer Trees and Spirit Needs

I’m sure by now, everyone is well aware of the unfortunate event that occurred at Auburn University. But in case you haven’t turned on ESPN in the past couple days, I’ll give you an extremely brief rundown. A 62 year old man, Harvey Updyke Jr., has been charged with one count of first degree criminal mischief after attacking two oak trees located at the corner of Auburn’s Toomer Street with a strong herbicide. The trees, which are showered in toilet paper following the Tigers’ sports victories, were clearly a point of contention for Updyke, as he claimed he resented the Auburn student body’s toilet papering upon the death of Alabama coach, Paul Bryant in 1983.

This is certainly an instance of a collegiate sports rivalry gone too far. The 130-year-old trees are sadly not expected to survive. But the optimist in me commends the Auburn student body’s reaction to such a devastating act of violence. Yesterday morning, a steady stream of thousands — with flowers, signs, and Auburn spirit paraphernalia — arrived at the corner of Toomer Street to pay tribute to these beloved symbols of both Auburn collegiate and athletic pride.

I have to wonder: would the current Penn student body react in much the same way if put in a similar situation? I highly doubt it. Would anything as atrocious as this even happen on Penn’s campus, given students’ disinterest and inaction within context of the historical Philadelphia area and Ivy League rivalries? Probably not. Is there anything that is so synonymous with Penn athletic victories that students would rally to support it? I would argue no.

Granted, I realize that these oak trees were living symbols of pride — something that, to my knowledge, Penn lacks — but I can’t help but wonder what, if anything, would Penn students rally around given the opportunity. I mean, just look at the pounding Locust Walk takes at the hands of its own students every spring on Hey Day. What could someone possibly do to the Button outside of Van Pelt that would anger the student body enough to come out in droves to honor it? But perhaps the point I’m trying to make is that the current student body may understand the legends of old surrounding the Palestra and Franklin Field, but to them these sentiments are just that: things of the past, lacking all relevance to their Penn experience.

I know the topic of recently diminished Penn pride has been beaten to death, and up until this point, I really had nothing to contribute. I’m merely making an observation. But this is an observation that really struck a chord with me, and hopefully it resonates with others as well. Maybe it’s someone who wouldn’t think to attend Friday’s game against Columbia. Or maybe it’s someone who has never bothered to come out and support the Ivy League Champion football team play.