Upon entering State Farm Center, one can hear roaring from a sea of orange. No, it isn’t a bag of Cheetos — it’s Orange Krush, one of the University’s student spirit organizations. These groups focus on building school spirit inside and outside of Illini athletics.
Illini Pride is an overarching organization that houses Orange Krush, Block I and Olympic Sports student sections.
“Illini Pride is the umbrella of all of the student sections on campus,” said Miranda Ochs, president of Illini Pride and graduate student studying crop sciences.
Ochs became involved in student sections through Orange Krush, and ever since, her passion for the Illini spirit has blossomed.
Ochs believes the organization acts as another player on the court, placing a large emphasis on the section showing up and showing out for every game. Orange Krush vice president and senior in ACES Brooke Voelker shares similar sentiments for her section’s effect on games.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
“The atmosphere that the State Farm Center has is dependent on the Orange Krush each game,” Voelker said.
Orange Krush sits in the lower bowl of State Farm Center during all men’s and women’s home basketball games. According to Voelker, the group aims to intimidate the other team while fostering good sportsmanship and encouragement for the Illinois teams.
Anyone who attends a basketball game becomes a member of Orange Krush by default. In addition to game attendance, there are many ways for passionate students to become more involved.
“Krush Kaptains” lead the student section, starting chants, handing out wristbands and organizing the students sitting in the section. Krush Kaptains can then apply to serve on the organization’s executive board and move up the ranks of Orange Krush.
Starting as a freshman attendee, Voelker eventually worked her way up to her current position.
Voelker believes Orange Krush is “more than just a student section.” In addition to supporting the basketball program and providing leadership opportunities, the philanthropic branch of the organization, Orange Krush Foundation, collects donations for charity, making it “one of the largest student-run charitable organizations.”
Block I, named after the University’s current logo, is another student section under Illini Pride. Over 30 Block I leaders, the “Blockheads,” can be spotted at every home football game.
These student leaders are similar to Krush Kaptains, overseeing spirit operations such as tailgates and the card stunts that decorate the north end zone.
“Block I is an instrumental part of Illini culture,” said Addy Allard, Block I vice president and senior in ACES, in an email to The Daily Illini. “The card stunt has been around for nearly 100 years, and it sets us apart from other schools, both in the (Big Ten) and in all of NCAA football. Without the Blockheads, this beloved Illinois tradition would never be able to happen.”
The last branch of Illini Pride focuses on bringing student engagement to the Olympic Sports played at the University. The different subsections of the Olympic Sports in Illini Pride include the Spike Squad for volleyball, Net Nuts for tennis, Hot Shots for soccer, Ballers for softball, Pool Sharks for swim & dive, Wrestleheads for wrestling, Grounds Crew for baseball and Flip Crew for gymnastics.
“Olympic Sports in Illini Pride is all about showing up and supporting the other sports teams on campus,” said Blessing Nkezea, Olympic Sports vice president and senior in LAS, in an email to The DI.
For students uninterested in athletics, Student Alumni Ambassadors aims to spark Illini pride in everyone. The organization connects students and the University of Illinois Alumni Association, the group that oversees SAA.
“SAA embodies what being an Illini is,” said Maggie Mosher, president of SAA and senior in LAS.
While other organizations emphasize athletics or student government, SAA encompasses all aspects of being an Illini, current and former.
The organization creates a unified community through events like Illinois Sights & Sounds, Homecoming and iHelp.
“I realized that this is the best RSO if you really care about Illinois,” Mosher said. “You want to be a part of the big events, and you want to be a part of the things that make people remember Illinois as the great school that it was.”
Students interested in participating in SAA can seek more information on Quad Day or stay updated on the recruitment process through its Instagram.
