It's the difference between "cheer" and "join." In an effort to make the lyrics of its "Ramblin' Wreck" fight song more female-inclusive, Georgia Tech has proposed a one-word change in the 107-year-old lyrics. From the campus website:
Georgia Tech aspires to the equal respect and inclusion of all members of its community. In particular, great strides have been made towards creating a welcoming environment for women, beginning with their admission as students in 1952. As part of this on-going effort, it is important to modernize the language that describes women's roles in the Georgia Tech community. Nowhere is this more important than in our Institute's traditions, which not only reflect our history, but are a daily reminder of our core values.
The “Ramblin’ Wreck” lyrics, circa 1908, prior to female matriculation:
"Oh! If I had a daughter, sir, I'd dress her in White and Gold,
And put her on the campus to cheer the brave and bold."
The new version Tech students and alumni have been asked to embrace (emphasis ours):
"Oh! If I had a daughter, sir, I'd dress her in White and Gold,
And put her on the campus to join the brave and bold."
Of course, there's already an opposing petition in circulation. But if you want a measure of the female situation at Tech, consider the above photo. Posted on the Tech website in September, it is accompanied by this headline and caption:
Female Student Pilots the Ramblin' Wreck for Third Time
A computational media major with a 3.47 GPA, Hillary Degenkolb earned a slice of history, becoming the third woman to lead the Jackets onto the field, and the first since 1988. A high-school cheerleader at the Lovett School who can program in HTML, Java, Python and C, Degenkolb fits the mold of spirited achievers that have occupied the seat before her.
Really? The first since the Berlin Wall fell?
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