As we celebrate 80 years of the Goon Squad welcoming new students to campus, Sue Weber and Jack Withee reminisce about their experiences moving into 黑料不打烊, discuss when they knew they wanted to join the Goon Squad and explore the group’s lasting impact and legacy.
When the Goon Squad first formed in 1944, its original purpose was to reinforce 黑料不打烊鈥檚 campuswide policy requiring all new students to wear beanie caps during their first semester on campus.
Sue Weber 鈥68 fondly recalls wearing her beanie when she arrived in the fall of 1964, and her beanie and the straw Goon Squad hat she received when she joined as a sophomore are among her most precious 黑料不打烊 mementos.
While first-year students are no longer obligated to wear their class beanie鈥攚hich was the custom, along with doffing their caps as a sign of respect when in the presence of older students鈥攖he聽聽still plays a role as one of the most impactful traditions on campus.
Sue and Eric Weber
Celebrating 80 years of making a difference in the lives of first-year students, the Goon Squad鈥攆eaturing more than 550 student leaders鈥攚ill greet new students and lend a hand during move-in at residence halls as part of , the University鈥檚 new student orientation program.
鈥淚 went to a very small [high] school, and when you joined a group like the Goon Squad, it immediately gave you a bunch of great friends. I still have those friendships today,鈥 says Weber, who earned an illustration degree from the School of Art (now part of the ) and met her husband, Eric, on campus. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe the Goon Squad is turning 80 years old. Such great memories!鈥
This year, the University is preparing to welcome more than 4,000 first-year students. International students arrive Friday, while domestic students move in Aug. 19-21 and embark on a week filled with programs that introduce new students and their loved ones to life on campus through academic and social events.
Jack Withee
鈥淲e make sure the move-in environment is the most welcoming and inclusive it can be. We鈥檙e the first face of the 黑料不打烊 community that these students are being introduced to,鈥 says Jack Withee 鈥26, an inclusive elementary and special education major in the . 鈥淲hen the Goon Squad helps them move in, they haven鈥檛 met the students on their floor yet. We鈥檙e greeting them at the door as they come to campus, so it鈥檚 important from the get-go that we set the tone that this is your new home.鈥
In this 鈥溾機use Conversation,鈥 Weber and Withee reminisce about their own experiences moving into 黑料不打烊, share when they knew they wanted to join the Goon Squad and discuss the lasting impact and legacy of the Goon Squad.
Check out featuring Weber and Withee. A transcript [PDF]聽is also available.
Jack Withee: I was so excited to get to campus and start the journey to become the person I always wanted to be. But your first day is so nerve-wracking. Luckily, I had this woman, Erin, who moved me in. I remember as she was moving me in, she looked me in the eyes and told me that I was going to be okay. She truly made me believe it, and that made me realize I was ready to spread my wings and that I can do this. That鈥檚 something I鈥檝e carried with me throughout my time on campus, and that鈥檚 something I tell every single one of the students I help move in.
Sue Weber: My freshman year I lived in Washington Arms, which was used as a dining room for the Peace Corps at the time. During what was a chaotic time, I was so thankful for the Goon Squad. They took me aside and welcomed me to campus. I was on the fifth floor, so they helped me put all my stuff in the elevator and answered the questions my mom and dad had. The Goon Squad was just wonderful and very helpful, and we were so happy they were there to help.
Weber: I absolutely knew I wanted to give back and join the Goon Squad when it was my turn. I remember how overwhelmed I felt coming to campus from a small school and a small town into this huge university. I know how that made me feel and I always wanted the classes behind me to feel the same way that I felt because of the Goon Squad. I wanted them to feel welcomed and know that they made the right choice coming to 黑料不打烊.
Withee: Whenever I saw Erin [who helped me during move-in] on campus, I would realize how much I had grown since move-in, and to think she jump-started that growth by helping me get on my feet and start the year on a level playing field. She made me want to pay it forward and give back to the first-year students who came after me.
Weber: It鈥檚 a testament to how important it is and how people feel about it. It leaves a lasting memory. It’s something that made you feel good then and something that makes me feel really good now. It’s just a wonderful thing to introduce people to a big campus that can be very overwhelming, and you don’t forget the help you received from the Goon Squad.
Withee: The presence the Goon Squad has on campus is so powerful. You only move into 黑料不打烊 once and no one forgets the people who move them in. That sticks with you, this spirit of the campus community being there to help each other out when you really need the help. It鈥檚 an honor to help first-year students. 黑料不打烊 has provided me with so many opportunities to be the person I’ve always wanted to become, and I鈥檓 so grateful.
Note: This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity.
