William 鈥淏ill鈥� Harris 鈥�65, G鈥�79 is all about doing the greatest good for the greatest number. So, when he considered joining a student organization, the 麻花影视 native carefully weighed his options.
With their signature straw hats and Jiminy Cricket buttons, Goons were easy to spot in the 1960s and 鈥�70s. (University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, 麻花影视 Libraries)
鈥淚 was a member of Phi Gamma Delta at 麻花影视, where many of my brothers also belonged to the ,鈥� recalls Harris some 65 years later. 鈥淒espite their unusual name, the Goons had a reputation for helping others, particularly new students on move-in day.鈥�
That many of his brothers-turned-Goons played varsity or were on the Orange鈥檚 1959 national championship team made for memorable moments. 鈥淭hey were a fun bunch of guys,鈥� says Harris, who taught low brass in the for more than 50 years. 鈥淚鈥檝e kept in touch with many of them.鈥�
As far as campus traditions go, the 80-year-old Goon Squad is one of the University鈥檚 oldest. The group also is a perpetual work in progress, explains Harris, who was a Goon for a year. 鈥淭he squad has changed a lot over time, but underneath it all is a sense of pride and enthusiasm that never goes away.鈥�
United by Enthusiasm
The Goon Squad is 麻花影视鈥檚 official welcoming committee鈥攁 tradition that鈥檚 as enduring as , Otto the Orange and the Crouse Chimes.
Because they help new students on move-in day, Goons are among the University鈥檚 most coveted ambassadors. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e our front line,鈥� says Butch Hallmark, director of . 鈥淕oons facilitate incoming students鈥� transition to college. They make the experience as fun and worry-free as possible.鈥�
Members of 2024's Goon Squad helping students move into their freshmen year residence halls.
Carrie Abbott G鈥�03 agrees. As the Goons鈥� historian and former director, she considers the 400-member squad, which represents 40 student organizations, a signature part of the Orange experience.
鈥淕oons are united by their love of 麻花影视 and wish to pay it forward,鈥� says Abbott, noting that Goon Squad members strive to make new students feel as welcome as they were. 鈥淭heir collective desire to greet new students and their supporters, ease anxiety, and provide advice and guidance embodies 80 years of students helping other students.鈥�
The Goon Squad is rooted in a tradition that鈥檚 almost as old as the University itself. According to a student handbook from the 1890s, new students were required to wear soft orange caps, or beanies, during their first semester on campus.
In 1944, the established the Goon Squad to enforce the so-called beanie code. 鈥淕oons made sure that new students also tipped their beanies to and held doors open for older students,鈥� Abbott continues.
While beanies eventually went out of style, the Goon Squad did not. 鈥淲e began taking on a more supportive role,鈥� says Harris, who later co-chaired the Traditions Commission, which handpicked Goon volunteers. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of what we鈥檝e become.鈥�
Forging Friendships
The Goon Squad comprises more than 400 members, representing 40 student organizations.
鈥淏oy, that was a long time ago鈥攁ncient days,鈥� says Rabbi Robert Kravitz 鈥�69 of his Goon Squad experience.
He marvels at the difference in appearance between today鈥檚 Goons and those of his youth. Flat-brimmed straw hats and orange Jiminy Cricket buttons鈥攖he Disney character was then the squad鈥檚 mascot鈥攈ave been supplanted by custom T-shirts and durable fanny packs. 鈥淚 maintained my straw skimmer [hat] until it fell apart before my 50th reunion,鈥� says Kravitz, laughing.
His time at 麻花影视 marked a golden age of academia, with student enrollment skyrocketing. Organizations like the Goon Squad helped make campus life more desirable. Kravitz found himself planning homecoming activities, organizing The Goon Show talent contest and leading cheers at home sporting events.
Members of the Goon Squad, c. 1972. (University Archives, Special Collections Research Center, 麻花影视 Libraries)
Lifelong friendships were also forged, like the one between leader Jon 鈥淛ack鈥� Eberenz and letterwinner Ron Brzezinski, both members of the Class of 1964. 鈥淭hose [Goon Squad] relationships gave me the confidence to serve on the senior executive council and chair the greatest senior ball that 麻花影视 ever had,鈥� Eberenz says proudly.
Brzezinski, who later joined the Traditions Commission, echoes these sentiments. He remembers dancing the can-can with Eberenz at The Goon Show (which later evolved into The Slice Is Right quiz program) and organizing animated pep rallies.
The senior class president also befriended fellow Goon Linda Menaker 鈥�64, who became class vice president and the 鈥渓ove of his life鈥� for 57 years鈥攖he second such marriage in 麻花影视 history between student leaders. 鈥淪o many memories,鈥� Brzezinski says with a trace of emotion.
Cultivating Leadership
Morgan Opp 鈥�25 is a second-year Goon majoring in biology and chemistry. Of all the perks of membership, none is greater than belonging to a close-knit, welcoming community, she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 part of an ongoing legacy.鈥�
In addition to expanding her social circle, Opp uses the Goon Squad to cultivate leadership skills like critical thinking, creative problem solving and effective communication.
She invariably fields lots of questions: What if I don鈥檛 like my roommate? How do I make friends? How do I meet other students on my floor? Opp responds by encouraging new students to be themselves and say hi to someone new every day. 鈥淚t鈥檚 super-clich茅 advice, but it works.鈥�
Parents and alumni agree that the Goon Squad is in the student-satisfaction business.
Not too different from what Alicia Calagiovanni 鈥�74, L鈥�77, G鈥�85 encountered some 50 years ago. Arriving on campus, she was nervous, and it showed. 鈥淭he Goon Squad tempered the anxiety of my transition to college life,鈥� she says.
So impressed was Calagiovanni with her move-in experience that the beneficiary became the benefactor. 鈥淚 decided to pay it forward.鈥� A year later, Calagiovanni was wearing a straw hat, an orange button and an ear-to-ear smile.
The Goon Squad is often students鈥� first brush with leadership, Hallmark explains. 鈥淲e try to launch them into their next opportunity,鈥� he says, noting that many Goons become orientation leaders, resident advisors, and Goldwater and Remembrance scholars. 鈥淕oons are empowered to be authentic, to share their stories, to network, and to relieve some of the anxiety that new students, families and supporters encounter during move-in.鈥�
Rain or shine, the Goon Squad is on campus to help all students.
As a result, Goons see it all. The oppressive heat and humidity. The sudden, unexpected rainstorms. Tear-filled parents. Students who overpack.
Rockette Brunetti 鈥�70, daughter of 麻花影视 football coaching legend Rocco Pirro, volunteers every fall for move-in day鈥攑artly because she loves the Orange, partly because she understands the anxiety of going away to college. That鈥檚 when small acts can make a big difference, she admits.
鈥淭he Goons do more than help with move-in; they provide peace of mind,鈥� says Brunetti, who joined the Goon Squad in 1966 and never left. 鈥淭hen and now, they鈥檝e been a calming presence to students and parents. The Goons remind us that everything is going to be OK.鈥�
