COJCL State Convention 2017
We racked our brains. Should we go for another year of “South Park” clichés? No! The students in the 2002 state delegation insisted we could be more creative than that. The final stages of the Super Fund cleanup of the Rocky Flats Plant, a U.S. nuclear weapons production facility, was a hot item (pun intended) in the news that year. This delegation decided we would all dress up in HazMat gear, brandish green glow lights, and get our cheers totally coordinated. It was just one of five spirit plans we had, but it we performed it super well because by that the third day of convention, we were getting really revved up and determined to give our best show of spirit.You don’t understand. JCL delegations of hundreds (from “large” states), tens (from “medium” states) and under ten members (from “small” states) enter the assembly space already cheering in seats. And then the noise really begins. Large state delegations are competing against each other, cheering with words and unified hand and body motions, led by their “yell leaders”. Teachers, too. Wisconsin cheese heads are swaying and cheering in unison. A large red lobster is being lifted with Latin cheers by too many from MA. You know where the large Shamu was being hailed, right? State spirit competition at Nationals is a sight to behold – and ears ring for a while afterwards. And then – suddenly - another amazing bit at Nationals. As soon as all the national officers have made their rounds through the auditorium, noting points for each aspect of spirit competition, the time’s up, the national officers take the stage, and all the noise stops immediately. Teeming chaos to order – just like that.
Spirit gets INTENSE at Nationals
Photo credit: Eric Wang, National Historian
unison. They keep cheering as they fill into their rows of seats. And then the noise really begins. Large state delegations are competing against each other, cheering with words and unified hand and body motions, led by their “yell leaders”. Teachers, too. Wisconsin cheese heads are swaying and cheering in unison. A large red lobster is being lifted with Latin cheers by too many from MA. You know where the large Shamu was being hailed, right? State spirit competition at Nationals is a sight to behold – and ears ring for a while afterwards. And then – suddenly - another amazing bit at Nationals. As soon as all the national officers have made their rounds through the auditorium, noting points for each aspect of spirit competition, the time’s up, the national officers take the stage, and all the noise stops immediately. Teeming chaos to order – just like that.