Monday, October 20, 1997
Super Fans
FANS True
blue-and-gold Bruins don’t feel shy about
showing school spirit
By Michelle Navarro
Daily Bruin Contributor
It goes beyond knowing the eight-clap. It goes beyond just
wearing a UCLA t-shirt and baseball cap. It even goes beyond
knowing the tune and lyrics of "The Sons of Westwood." It means
going to every game and standing out in head-to-toe Bruin garb. It
means "going the full Bruin."
They’re the loudest ones at every game; they’re the ones who go
above and beyond the call of school spirit. They’re the devout UCLA
fans.
"We love UCLA!" yelled Antranig Balian, a first-year English
student, explaining the reason for bearing a gigantic, painted "U"
on his bare chest.
Balian and five other friends met two hours prior to the UCLA
vs. Oregon State football game, drove to the Rose Bowl and then
proceeded to paint each other with each one of the letters from the
catch phrase "GO UCLA."
The six freshman, nicknamed "the celebrities" by security
guards, parked themselves at the rail of an end zone. With eager
eyes and cups of lemonade slush, they danced along to the tunes the
UCLA marching band pumped out – as well as with the dancing
cheerleaders directly to their left.
This abundance of spirit didn’t start with becoming a Bruin.
Attending a variety of athletic games was actually something most
of "the celebrities" did in high school.
"We kept the tradition from high school. I played soccer and
they came to all my games," said Aslan Appleman, a first-year
undeclared student.
Balian felt having school spirit was especially important in a
university like UCLA to prevent feeling left out.
"Instead of being a number, you can be a letter," added
Appleman, as he pointed to the big blue-and-gold "C" across his
chest.
The "G" of the group goes to the games simply for the
enjoyment.
"It feels great! It’s more fun than just coming and sitting,"
said Kris Welch, a first-year undeclared student.
No doubt Corrie Roozee, a fourth-year geography student, would
agree.
Clad in shimmering blue leggings and a halter which glittered in
the hot Saturday sun, Roozee stood tall amongst the other fans. A
yellow cape, with a blue "B" encased in the Superman emblem, hung
down and perfectly complemented her yellow platforms. In the
costume her mother made, Roozee was the complete Bruin
superhero.
According to Roozee, her love for UCLA began at the age of 4 –
the same time her sisters began attending the university.
"I’ve had season tickets every year since I was seven," Roozee
said. "It’s been my lifelong dream to come here."
Unfortunately, when she finished high school, Roozee said she
wasn’t accepted into UCLA.
"I worked my butt off for two years at another school and then
transferred," she said. "All the stuff I had to go through to get
here made me love it even more."
The day after the coveted acceptance letter found its way to the
Roozee mailbox, April 11, the now-Bruin went out and accomplished
the ultimate celebration.
"I got a tattoo," she said as she lifted her legging to reveal
the Bruin bear, flanked by the letters "UCLA", on her ankle.
Once at UCLA, Roozee’s love for the school kept on growing.
"I remember the first night here. I lived in the crappiest dorm
room. I was trying to fall asleep and all I could hear was the band
practicing the fight song," she said placing a hand over her heart.
"The day I graduate is my dream come true."
Although Roozee considers herself a "natural" football fan and
hasn’t missed one Monday night football game, she still gives her
support to other UCLA athletic sports.
"I try to go to other sports events. I know that the other
athletes work just as hard," she said.
Basically, anything affiliated with UCLA is Roozee’s domain.
"I just turned 21 and I went to Maloney’s. A guy asked for my
number, but when he told me he went to USC I said ‘no’," she said.
"When it comes to defending my school, there’s no boundaries."
SUSIE MING HWA CHU
Oh, those wild and crazy guys. At the Rose Bowl game on
Saturday, these Bruin fans donned blue-and-gold Cat-in-the-Hat
chapeaux.