This may be the beginning of a long series on why I hate and
hated Pitt so much. I probably dislike college in general, but because I went
to Pitt that’s where my experience lies. I’m just easing into it here with only
a semi-serious gripe on a not so personal level.
Hail to Pitt. How is that not the most offensive thing since burnt toast? Hail to Pitt. Let’s just break it down. Hail. Hail ____. Can you fill in the blank? Did you say Hitler? If you grew up on planet earth and have an understanding of history past the 3rd grade level you might’ve said Hitler.
How the Nazi salute didn’t immediately jump to minds of the designers of the motto is beyond me. Am I alone in this? I would prefer my school’s saying not to conjure up imagery of the world’s most hated man, and one of the worst tragedies in history.
Even if World War II didn’t happen, it still would be a terrible motto. Hail is reserved for Gods and Kings and Dictators. Why then, would you hail an institution? What sort of groupthink nationalism is this? Pitt, why do you think you need to be hailed?
This whole thing might seem a little hyperbolic but I’m only partially exaggerating here. I genuinely think that having a phrase like “Hail to Pitt” as the motto of an institution that is supposed to empower students is not only a PR blunder but really damaging to students. Your growth into an adult shouldn’t be under the banner of hailing anything. Except maybe yourself.
When Kit Kat tells you to “Gimme A Break” or Nike to “Just Do It”, they’re sending of message of their product. Same goes for colleges. Penn State explains that it’s “Making Life Better” (debatable) and Cornell has the lengthy “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study” (Odd use of the past tense here, you did it buddy!). A standard for universities is to use Latin. Harvard uses “Veritas”, verity, and Temple “Perseverantia Vincit”, perseverance conquers. Only Pitt has the masturbatory “Hail to meeeeeeeeeeee”.
Hail to Pitt. How is that not the most offensive thing since burnt toast? Hail to Pitt. Let’s just break it down. Hail. Hail ____. Can you fill in the blank? Did you say Hitler? If you grew up on planet earth and have an understanding of history past the 3rd grade level you might’ve said Hitler.
How the Nazi salute didn’t immediately jump to minds of the designers of the motto is beyond me. Am I alone in this? I would prefer my school’s saying not to conjure up imagery of the world’s most hated man, and one of the worst tragedies in history.
Even if World War II didn’t happen, it still would be a terrible motto. Hail is reserved for Gods and Kings and Dictators. Why then, would you hail an institution? What sort of groupthink nationalism is this? Pitt, why do you think you need to be hailed?
This whole thing might seem a little hyperbolic but I’m only partially exaggerating here. I genuinely think that having a phrase like “Hail to Pitt” as the motto of an institution that is supposed to empower students is not only a PR blunder but really damaging to students. Your growth into an adult shouldn’t be under the banner of hailing anything. Except maybe yourself.
When Kit Kat tells you to “Gimme A Break” or Nike to “Just Do It”, they’re sending of message of their product. Same goes for colleges. Penn State explains that it’s “Making Life Better” (debatable) and Cornell has the lengthy “I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study” (Odd use of the past tense here, you did it buddy!). A standard for universities is to use Latin. Harvard uses “Veritas”, verity, and Temple “Perseverantia Vincit”, perseverance conquers. Only Pitt has the masturbatory “Hail to meeeeeeeeeeee”.
I’m a pretty staunch individualist. Despite use of the
library, technology, and professors at Pitt, I tend to think that the only
reason anybody graduates is because they put the effort in. I don’t think it’s
healthy for a school that’s supposed to educate its students and facilitate
their formative years to have a motto that demands its students to submit to
it.
Again, this is a small qualm, but it is one that bothers me.
And I just needed to write about it. It’s the small bit of tinder where larger
problems fester from.
