Where’s the School Spirit?
By Oluwatoni Siyanbola
School spirit goes beyond cheering from the stands. From athletic victories to cultural celebrations, Barry University students share what brings Buccaneers together and how campus pride can grow.
At schools with packed football stadiums, marching bands and thousands of students wearing the same colors on game day, school spirit can be easy to recognize. Barry University is surrounded by neighboring colleges like the University of Miami, Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University, where these sporting events and game-day traditions are often a visible part of campus life.
“I think if Barry had more tailgates and events leading up to the games, there can be more school spirit,” said Hope Brittenham, a senior biology major.
Hope’s perspective raises a large question about school spirit at Barry. What does school spirit actually look like at Barry, and what can the university do to give students more opportunities to show it? Furthermore, can school spirit extend beyond just what happens on an athletic field?
Barry students have shown that they are willing to come together to support their teams.
On Oct. 2, 2026, the Barry University women’s volleyball team defeated the Saint Leo Lions 3–1, giving students an opportunity to cheer from the stands and celebrate a victory for Barry athletics. The win, shared on the team’s official Instagram account, @barryuvb, highlights how sporting events can bring students together and encourage them to support their university.
For some students, school spirit means more than simply watching their team win. It is also about experiencing the excitement of the game, seeing the players work together and feeling connected to the university.
“Attending the volleyball games are really nice because you can see how the team communicates and works together against the other team, and I also enjoy watching their hype video before the game. It’s really cool,” said Lydia Walton, a junior kinesiology major.
Walton’s experience shows how attending athletic events can create a sense of excitement and connection among students. Whether students are cheering during a close match or watching the team’s pregame hype video, these moments can help create a stronger sense of pride in Barry athletics.
Beyond volleyball, Barry has other athletic programs that contribute to the university’s reputation, including men’s basketball and women’s tennis, which have achieved success in NCAA Division II competition. These accomplishments give students additional reasons to celebrate their university and support their fellow Buccaneers.
However, school spirit does not have to be limited to athletic competitions. For other students, school spirit may mean participating in campus events, supporting student organizations, celebrating academic achievements or simply creating a stronger sense of community.
One organization already making an effort to create that sense of community is Barry’s Campus Activities Board, or CAB. Events such as the pool party at the beginning of the fall semester and the campus cookout give students opportunities to step outside of the classroom, meet other students and enjoy being part of the Barry community. These events help create shared experiences that contribute to school spirit.
“The pool party was a really fun experience. The decorations created a great atmosphere, the DJ kept the energy high with his music, and there was an amazing turnout of students. Everyone had the opportunity to relax, have fun and enjoy themselves. It was a great way for students to come together and connect outside of the classroom,” said Stefan Govia, a senior business management major.
Govia’s experience reflects how campus events can encourage students to engage with one another and enjoy their time at Barry beyond academics. These gatherings provide opportunities for students to build friendships, create memories and develop a stronger connection to campus life.
When students have traditions and activities that they look forward to attending together, those experiences can become part of their connection to the university. Events such as Barry’s Festival of Nations and Homecoming celebrations provide opportunities for students to celebrate different cultures, participate in campus activities and show their pride in being Buccaneers.
“Festival of Nations was a wonderful experience that brought together students from different cultural backgrounds. As someone from the Caribbean, I had the opportunity to proudly represent and celebrate my Jamaican heritage through the Jamaican Student Association,” said Shantae Dunkley, a junior majoring in computer information sciences with a focus on digital media and cybersecurity.
Dunkley’s experience demonstrates how cultural events can contribute to school spirit by allowing students to celebrate their identities while learning about others. At a university with students from diverse backgrounds, opportunities to share cultural traditions can help strengthen the sense of belonging and community on campus.
These experiences demonstrate that school spirit can take different forms depending on how students choose to participate in campus life. Essentially, school spirit does not have to originate exclusively from sports, although athletic events remain one of the most recognizable ways for university students to demonstrate it.
For Barry, building school spirit around student organizations, leadership programs, community service, academic programs and cultural events across campus may be the university’s unique offering.
The question may not be whether Barry has school spirit. Instead, it may be whether students have had enough opportunities to see what makes their university worth cheering for.
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