To All Incoming Butler Bulldogs,
Congrats!! You don’t even know it yet, but you just hit the college jackpot! In less than a month, you’re going to become a part of a truly one-of-a-kind community. An environment so positive, determined and alive that you’ll find it means more to you than you ever could have thought possible.
If you think I’m being overdramatic, just ask the thousands of Butler students who have been (not so patiently) counting down the days until they’re back on that gorgeous campus. Don’t worry, you’ll start developing a slight obsession with Butler too- just like the rest of us!
Who knows, it could be when you and your friends are splitting a huge plate of Atherton fries and laughing so hard you can’t breathe. Or you could be with 15 other people who live on your floor, hanging in the lounge, pretending you’re all doing homework, when, in reality, none of you are getting any work done.
It could be your first time in the Dawg Pound during a Hinkle win. Or on bid day, when you run to your new Greek house, so insanely happy that you don’t even worry about slipping on the ice. Whatever the situation, I guarantee you’ll experience a moment of utter contentment when you realize that out of the thousands of colleges you could have attended, you chose this small school in the middle of Indiana to be yours.
I personally chose to become a Dawg because I knew that the so visibly apparent spirit and community of Butler were something that I couldn’t bear to miss out on. A year later, I can truly say that the spirit of Butler is stronger than my searching high school senior self could have ever hoped for.
It’s not a coincidence that almost every person I have met on campus is friendly, driven, intelligent, and genuinely proud of being a Bulldog. This university just seems to attract those with a strong character and positive attitude.
Again, I’m not over-exaggerating! Seriously, everyone here is nice. I’m talking holding the door even though you’re 20 feet away kind of nice. Leaving your laptop and wallet on a table for 15 minutes and it still being there when you get back, kind of nice.
Because you’re an incoming student and I’m serious about the whole Butler appealing to upstanding people claim, I’m going to take a wild guess that you’re totally a door-holding, non-stealing kind of person. I was right, wasn’t I?!
As we all know, basketball is a huge part of our university. Time and time again, no matter how much success they achieve, our team is labeled as the underdog. And you know what? That’s okay. The ability to thrive regardless of how underestimated we are is one of the reasons our communal bond is so strong. I'm thrilled you’ll have the chance to experience that bond, too.
One of the greatest testaments to the uniqueness and loyalty of BU can be found in this USA Today article that I encourage you to read.
The article covers the three tragic losses that the Butler community, specifically the basketball program, endured in 2016. The beloved and celebrated player Andrew Smith, Smith’s teammate and current Butler staff analyst Emerson Kampen’s infant son, lovingly referred to as Baby Em, and the admired and legendary player Joel Cornette, all passed within a few months of one another.
While reading the piece, you understand quickly that it wasn’t written with the intention of simply covering the details of the deaths. Rather, it publicly affirms a fact that any Bulldog, past or present, already knows- “when you’re a part of Butler, you’re a part of that place forever”.
It’s important to note that that statement, which perfectly sums up the point I’m attempting to express in this letter, was made by Jordan Cornette, brother of the late Joel Cornette. As an alumnus of Notre Dame Basketball, Jordan has every right to be biased towards another Indiana powerhouse team. Yet, he isn’t.
After he and his family experienced the outpouring of love and generosity from the Butler Basketball program and the university community, he spoke passionately about how BU stands out among others.
To quote Cornette, “There is no program like Butler, and I know teams have lost players and family members have lost people involved in the programs. I don’t think there is another program that would go to the great lengths Butler would to take care of their own. It just blew me away.”
As an incoming student, I’m sure you already know about The Butler Way. Although it’s a term that originated within Butler athletics, it’s a philosophy that’s followed by even the least-athletic people on campus (that would be me). The Butler Way demands commitment, denies selfishness, accepts reality, yet seeks improvement every day while putting the team above self.
While continually having to grieve one loss and then deal with the sudden shock of the next, the Butler community held strong and exemplified The Butler Way time and time again. Even though those within the basketball program were most personally met with these hardships, I know for certain that what has been said about the love, respect, and family-like bond their program possesses is present well beyond Hinkle’s court. Those traits and The Butler Way extend to every inch of campus and encompass every individual who consider Butler a second home.
How exciting is it that in less than a month, Butler will become your home away from home, too?!
When you finish unpacking and hug your family goodbye, I hope your excitement trumps your nervousness. Even if you have zero friends coming in (you’ll find some very soon), don’t know your way around Indy, and have no confidence in your ability to pass that daunting class on your schedule- just breathe. All those worries will work themselves out.
Instead, focus on the bigger picture. You’re beginning a journey that you’ll remember for the rest of your life! You will be challenged, filled with joy, create memories, dance like crazy, probably cry in the library more than once, have incredible friendships, spend way too much money on Hotbox breadsticks, learn, mature, and so much more.
The greatest thing about it, is that through the ups, the downs, the good, bad, and ugly, you are always going to be a Butler Bulldog. As Chris Holtmann, the ex-head basketball coach (it still hurts a little bit saying that) wrote in his transfer statement of all places...
“We all know that at Butler, despite change, those special and amazing moments will only continue. I’m certain of that. It’s Butler.”
I can’t wait to see you on campus, and as always, Go Dawgs!
