Vikes Nation is all-inclusive

In all honesty, I have never been one to really feel the need to belong to groups. I prefer to do my own thing and sample what I want, when I want to. I have, though, recently begun to see that being part of a community can enrich my own day to day experience. The problem has been that there hasn’t really been—at least for me—an encompassing experience like that here at UVic.

That is, until recently. We finally have such a community concept here at UVic: Vikes Nation. When I first heard about this new approach, I defaulted to an automatic response: is this just all about athletics?

I suppose it would be fine if it were—but it wouldn’t really grab me, or make me feel included.

Since my first reaction, I’ve learned a lot more about the new Vikes approach. Perhaps most of all, I like the idea of using the metaphor of excellence and high achievement as a connector across all domains.

The Vikes Nation campaign helps create a context for all the activities I see on campus. I embrace and feel a part of the community of excellence that spans athletics and the other core activities of our campus.

That feeling of belonging to an active, vibrant campus is fuelled by student energy and enthusiasm—from the classroom to the courts. It also feels exciting that we’re seeing a new, physical lightning-rod for the Vikes Nation spirit on campus: the Centre for Athletics, Recreation and Special Abilities (CARSA).

Through some incidental meetings with the Vikes administration, I have come to appreciate the positive influence the Vikes Nation approach can have for all of us. All of this has served to exploit a major weakness that I have personally—if I think something is deserving of support, I support it with my words and actions.

Of course, you can still experience a part of Vikes Nation by going to watch our athletes and cheer them on. But just don’t think that’s the full experience. If you stop there, it’s a bit like the stereotype of Canada as being all beavers, moose and hockey. The reality is we have all that and much more.

In Canada especially, there is always a kind of uncomfortable pairing of our sensibilities to be understated and our desire to support and participate. Supporting and participating in Vikes activities means supporting the tremendous environment we all share on and off campus, as well as breaking down barriers—real or imaginary—that can separate us given the different roles and responsibilities we all have.

If you think about it, breaking down barriers and creating some common frame of reference is something that can’t help but be positive for all of us. So, when you see the ads and signs that ask “Vikes Nation—Are You In?” I hope you’ll answer “yes,” because as far as I can see, you already are.

Dr. E. Paul Zehr is the Director of the Centre for Biomedical Research at the University of Victoria.

The Ring welcomes submissions from university community members. Opinions expressed are those of the author and not of the University of Victoria.