The Ryerson Students’ Union (RSU) has stepped up its efforts to gather support for the university’s sports teams by forming a council dedicated to athletics.
The newly created Athletics Council, formed this summer, has aims of planning new sporting programs and initiatives to support the Ryerson Rams.
“We decided that to actually get work done … we would need a council of individuals (representing) various parts of the campus to organize and figure out ways that we can support the Ryerson Rams,” said Danielle Brogan, RSU vice-president of student life and events.
The most significant part of the seven-seat council will be the “blue and gold crew,” a group that will reach out to students and rally the fan base to support their favourite teams, said Brogan.“It is an outlet for students – athletes or non-athletes – to come together and attend games and support the various sports that they want to,” she said.
“We want them to go out and know that there’s a space that they can go to – by themselves or with their friends – and cheer on the Ryerson Rams.”
Although the council won’t have its first formal meeting until this week, initiatives are in action.
“In the two big games during orientation week, we’ve been giving out a ton of stuff,” said Brogan. “Stuff like hand clappers, thunder sticks and tattoos, stickers, and just promoting the blue and gold crew.”
For Rams soccer player Armin Tankovic, having an athletic council is very important. “Other schools have had it … and we’ve needed it for a while,” said Tankovic, adding that the most important issue is getting people to the games.
The Athletics Council is working closely with Ryerson Athletics and Recreation to plan and organize initiatives in the short and long term.
“We plan on this initiative to grow, so we have to look into sources of sponsorship or funding,” said Brogan. “We always like to make sure and maintain that everything we do is free for students.”
This story was first published in The Ryersonian, a weekly newspaper produced by the Ryerson School of Journalism, on September 18, 2013.
Masters Student. Sports Lover. Fitness Fanatic.
Originally from the West Indies, Hayley loves everything to do with sports. Equestrian turned journalism student, she needs to know what is happening on the court, the field and of course the racetrack.
Given that Secretariat is her favourite athlete, she hopes to someday witness a Triple Crown unfold. This difficult feat hasn't been accomplished since Affirmed won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in 1978.
For this reason, Hayley continues to wait for the next big sports story to spring forth from the gates.