Notre Dame Dorm Boycotts Pep Rallies

Sorin College, one of the six Notre Dame residence halls that were supposed to host a football pep rally last Friday, boycotted the event instead, complaining that pep rallies have become too corporate and formulaic, the Observer reports. Mostly, the dorm objects to the first hour and 15 minutes, during which students are forced to watch videos and campus group performances while waiting for the team to arrive. The protesters would rather have more interaction with the players. "We know this school supports the team," one activist said. "But we don't think that they should have to put up with an hour of organized entertainment to do it."

Sorin College residents didn't just stay at home, though. Instead of attending the official rally, the students cheered outside the building dressed as lumberjacks ready to "cut down" their opponent Stanford's tree mascot. "If you want to say we have no spirit, that's absurd," said another activist.