I support Katie Cushwa’s submission to The University News (Dec. 4, 2008). It shows that she cares about the Cannonballers’ success. However, perhaps I can help readers to understand a little more about the Billiken Traditions initiative (the force behind the Cannonballers) so they see the entire picture.

The men’s basketball game was chosen as the kick-off event because we were playing a televised game against a perennial powerhouse, which would draw solid attendance and allow us to attract those people to the mural unveiling program.

Supporting Saint Louis University men’s basketball was just one of the six traditions that were voted on by SLU students and alumni and thus selected as the main foci of the Billiken Traditions Task Force. The other traditions that will be highlighted in the coming year (and asked of the Cannonballers to fervently promote) are 10 p.m. Mass, Spring Fever, Welcome Week, Homecoming and Make A Difference Day.

I understand that some feel that sports and basketball are getting too much of the attention that could be directed to other wonderful traditions at SLU, but I ask that they be patient and see what the Cannonballers can do for the remaining SLU traditions.

I whole-heartedly promote any activity in line with SLU’s mission and goals that students turn into a reoccurring, successful event. Six traditions were selected from the survey because we want to give the SLU community defined events that people can eagerly await, and that the Cannonballers, the foremost student leaders, can promote and get their classmates excited about.

The Billiken Tradition Task Force, a subset of the Student Government Association, is under no pressure from administration to push their agendas. We are battling with them to have the Billiken returned to campus where it belongs-with the students.

Student Life, Campus Ministry and CSOs are the some of the foundations of the aforementioned traditions that the SLU community selected. We agree that SLU graduates share common experiences, and the Cannonballers seek to strengthen these experiences to reminiscing-at-the-25-year-class-reunion status.

Although we can only highlight a few traditions, the celebration of all traditions on SLU’s campus is our hope for every Cannonballer.

Thank you for your continued Billiken Pride and dedication to enriching life at SLU. Feel free to contact me anytime with questions or comments.

Robert Moehle
Chair, Billiken Traditions and Pride Initiative