On the sunlit sixth of September, in front of Hepner Hall on Campanile Walkway, new San Diego State University President Adela de la Torre joined Associated Students President Chris Thomas in a pep rally event to drum up support for the Aztec Football home opener this weekend.

“pep (n.)
”vigor, energy,” 1912, shortened form of pepper (n.), which was used in the figurative sense of “spirit, energy” from at least 1847. Pep rally is attested from 1945; pep talk from 1926. To pep (something) up is from 1925.”

The season kicked off the previous weekend up in Palo Alto where the Stanford Cardinal put up 31 points compared to the 10 notched by the Aztecs. SDSU is looking to pick up its first victory at home when Sacramento State comes to SDCCU Stadium, and in a tradition as old as time, school spirit was drummed up.

At the rally, de la Torre and Thomas delivered an integrated speech in which the importance of "west campus expansion" was highlighted, before legendary SDSU basketball coach Steve Fisher took to the podium to introduce three of the current members of the Aztec football squad who led students in a rousing "I am SDSU" chant closed out the event on a relative high. The event also served as the perfect setting to unveil the new TV ad that supports the university's "I am SDSU" campaign.

Although the rally was advertised as running from 12:30-1:30pm, the speeches and cheers were complete by 12:45. One member of the audience commented that there was more staff in attendance than students. Student interest in the event itself seemed passing at best. One student who was distributing an on-campus publication called the SDSU Koala dismissed the entire pep rally as, "corporate."

"This whole thing is bull***t," said the student. "They want us to get excited about CTE? Really?"

When asked about the west campus expansion that President de la Torre has been advocating for since assuming her role over the summer, the student explained her perspective.

"I don't understand why we need to take over that sh**stain of a stadium. I'm glad I'll be done here before they hike up tuition and fees in order to pay for it, but it sucks for all the kids who come in after me who'll have to pay even more for a degree that qualifies them to be the assistant to the regional manager somewhere hopeless."

In the immediate aftermath of the proceedings, staff students and visitors alike were encouraged to take a free red and black scarf, on the condition that the scarf's new owner pose for a photo in front of the perfectly positioned step and repeat banner, emblazoned with the "I am SDSU" slogan.