Tarleton spirit organizations boast a rich history

BY HELENA KNUTSON / Multimedia Journalist

Memories help make us the people we are today and, in this instant, make this campus the University it is. As Tarleton has grown through the years new memories have been created and shared, several of these memories are now Tarleton traditions, such as P.A.N.K.U.S (people against not knowing the university spirit) and the Purple Poo.

One of these organizations members is Bryce Wishan, second years P.A.N.K.U.S member.

“We’re basically trying to be a big family, whether it be P.A.N.K.U.S members or Texans,” said Wishan.

You might recognize these organizations by their iconic striped overalls and painted chests and stomachs at sporting events, 4th-year P.A.N.K.U.S member Cally Reding reflects on their history. 

“Our founders went to a football game that was raining, and so they painted trash bags like ponchos,” said Reding. “That was our original uniform, then we changed to painted jeans and painted up [our bodies].”

This organization was established in 2001 to unite people who shared one thing in common: their love for Tarleton. The group was started by a group of residential leaders who all worked on the same floor.

“How the spirit came along was they would do chance and cheers at D Hall and stand up on the chairs,” said Reding. “People were like, ‘who’s those crazy weirdos that are standing on chairs at D Hall and hollering, I want to be a part of that, and then we started growing.’”

P.A.N.K.U.S has been around for a little over 20 years now and is growing each year with new members ready to embrace the Tarleton pride; one of these members is Ashow Bailey.

“I joined P.A.N.K.U.S because I can scream and yell at any game and meet new people, and they make sure I do my homework and stuff like that,” said Bailey.

P.A.N.K.U.S is constantly building the spirit of Tarleton and helping bring that pride to the students on campus.

“We do have some new tricks up our sleeve that we were going to pull out for homecoming. Hopefully, this will also get our name out there with other smaller organizations around campus,” Reding said.

Another spirit organization that has helped lift the spirit at Tarleton is the Purple Poo.

Tarleton’s Purple Poo started off as Ten Tarleton Sisters and Ten Tarleton Peppers, also known as the TTS and the TTP. Each year, 20 members represent the organization. One of these members was Tarleton alum Ace Brooks.

“It’s about raising the spirit of Oscar P. and making sure that everybody’s morale is raised,” said Brooks.

You may recognize the Poo by their fun outfits and masks, but these masks have a very important job, and that is to conceal the identity of the Poo.

“The mask and hiding your identity was because you weren’t allowed to sneak out back then. You had to hide who you were because of the curfew,” said Brooks

The Purple Poo holds a lot of meaning to Tarleton and its students. Some think of the Poo as just another spirit organization, but for some the Purple Poo is their family.

“There is such a base, you really can’t call it any other word except family, and it’s a loving community, it’s a giving community. You have some of the most fun times. I couldn’t be more blessed to be a part of it,” said Brooks.

These organizations make Tarleton the school it is. As these organizations grow, Tarleton can continue to make new memories and embrace new traditions.