Rowdy Crowd shows enthusiasm

Breah Boone

TNE Writer

Rowdy Crowd is an organization on campus that began in 2013 by Whitney

Perry, NSU alumnae. The hopes for Rowdy Crowd is to get the students to have school

spirits, demonstrate themes given by NSU Traditions and keep the players a high

enthusiasm the entire game.

Conor DeLaRosa, Rowdy Crowd chairman, is in charge of setting the theme for

most games. DeLaRosa also tries to increase school spirit amongst students by

coordinating events that take place during sporting events. Because Rowdy Crowd is

considered to be the biggest fans in a way, the group feels they truly make the teams

better by their constant enthusiasm and love for the sports.

“My favorite thing about being Rowdy Crowd Chairman is seeing students get

involved in a way that promotes this university,” said DeLaRosa. “Students who get

involved with Rowdy Crowd are basically encouraging other students to do the best that

they can and when we lift their spirits and get a win there isn't a better feeling.”

One event in particular Rowdy Crowd has done is RiverHawk Madness. Student

attendance was the highest they had seen. It was a pep rally in Jack Dobbins put on for

the NSU basketball team. The most recent activity they did was Green Out for Founders

Day. Rowdy Crowd put up a display in the University Center lobby and had a mural of

old pictures of events that happened at NSU. Everything was scattered with green and

white to support our school colors.

Tori Gleaves, president of Rowdy Crowd, said they aim to attend all athletic and

spirit events. Some other activities they do are make signs and posters for the games. For

football, they had themes such as referee and USA for students to dress up. The toilet

paper game was Gleave’s personal favorite. They waited until the first touch down and

everyone in the student section was streaming toilet paper rolls everywhere.

“The thing that makes both Traditions and Rowdy Crowd special to me is the fact

that we have so much freedom to do new things at NSU,” said Gleaves. “Both of these

organizations were founded almost two years ago and it’s already grown considerably in

the short amount of time it’s been on campus. I love planning events that Traditions hosts

and I love making themes for the games. I’m really excited to see where these

organizations go in the future and to see them grow even more.”

As a member of Rowdy Crowd for two semesters, Spencer Hall, Poteau junior,

was involved with the games and events his year of being a member. Hall’s favorite

memory was the Silent Game last year when the event center first opened. It got students

involved and excited for the NSU basketball team to keep scoring.

“I think it really helps to have the crowd be rowdy especially in a really close

scoring game,” said Hall.

Published 3/11/15

Cutline: Tori Gleaves, Rowdy Crowd president, at the Green Out for Founder’s Day. She

is explaining what they are supporting.