What Does it Mean to Bear Down?
By Craig Haubrich BSBA '02, MPA '05
UA Alumni Association
 While the primary purpose of attending The University of Arizona is to receive an education, the lifelong memories that originate from the UA experience are centered around the entire student experience. The vast majority of the student experience takes place outside the classroom, and the UA's heritage and traditions have a significant role in shaping it.
Since 1926, Bear Down has served as the rallying cry for the UA community. Bear Down, though, is more than just something to say to evoke pride and spirit – it is a culture that binds all members of the UA community together.
From jingling one's keys during kickoffs at the football games, to whitewashing the A on A Mountain each fall, to celebrating the bonfire on Homecoming Friday, heritage and traditions are everywhere at The University of Arizona. Much of this heritage is visible on the surface and known to all those that call the UA campus home, but when one scratches the surface and looks deeper, there is even more heritage and tradition to be found.
While your children are on campus, encourage them to scratch the surface themselves and learn more about this fine institution that plays such an important role in their lives. By doing so, they will develop a much greater appreciation for their surroundings. The fountain in front of Old Main that many of us pass by daily will no longer be viewed as a fountain, but rather a tribute to those students who paid the ultimate sacrifice in World War I so that we can celebrate the freedoms we have in the United States. The Cactus Garden will no longer simply be a collection of native plants of the Southwest, but rather a symbol of the rich history of the UA. The Student Union Memorial Center will no longer simply be a place to eat and purchase textbooks, but a symbolic representation to memorialize the tragic events of December 7, 1941. Scratching the surface exposes the rich history that is The University of Arizona.
So, what does it mean to Bear Down? It means jingling your keys at football games and singing "Bear Down, Arizona!" with pride, but most importantly it means taking an opportunity to look below the surface and learn about the place that is such an important part of each of our lives.
Encourage your student to Bear Down! When they are reflecting upon their UA experience years from now, they'll thank you for it.
For more information on heritage and traditions at the UA, visit http://www.arizona.edu/tours/traditions/ or http://www.arizona.edu/tours/history/
Craig Haubrich may be contacted at Haubrich@al.arizona.edu
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