Traditions: SIUE in Song The use of music and school songs to create enthusiasm, nostalgia and pride is a long-honored tradition in higher education. The school song, known as an alma mater, is often a hymn-like ballad whose lyrics take an emotional look at the past and demonstrate a love for the university. Fight songs, in contrast, are upbeat and commonly used to inspire excitement at athletic events. Today, the SIUE community is embracing the musical traditions of the past and creating new ones for future students. The University’s alma mater, “Hail SIUE,” is a reverent ballad composed by George Mellott, professor emeritus of music. The lyrics of “Hail SIUE,” also written by Mellott, are a fond reflection on the friendships and opportunities experienced as an SIUE student. SIUE graduates first sing the alma mater at the closing of each commencement ceremony to mark their transition from students to alumni.
“To college life we bid adieu and wend our separate ways, yet college friends and mentors too are with us all our days.” —Hail SIUE
To celebrate SIUE’s transition to NCAA Division I athletics, Vaughn Vandegrift, chancellor emeritus, commissioned a new fight song in 2010. “The Mighty Roar” was composed by Kim Archer, professor of music, with lyrics written by Darryl Coan, professor of music. The new fight song is quickly becoming one of SIUE’s newest traditions, being performed or played at most athletic events. Vandegrift also established the fight song as a daily reminder of SIUE pride. “The Mighty Roar” is played daily on the Stratton Quadrangle at exactly noon and can be heard across campus.
“Mighty Cougars, fearless Cougars! Show your claws of might! S-I-U-E! S-I-U-E! Ready for the fight! Mighty Cougars, fearless Cougars! Cougar pride forevermore! See the charge and feel the fury! Hear the mighty Cougar roar!” —Mighty Cougar Roar
View the sheet music and hear the fight song online at siuecougars.com/spirit/fightsong.html.