By HILLARY EDMAN

Staff Writer

School spirit does exist, but it is not what it could be and everybody knows it. At least that is what Patrick Dunn thinks.

Dunn, president of the Bulldawg Corps and a senior marketing major, said the development of the Bulldawg Corps is a good way to bring the students and the spirit back to athletic games.

"The Bulldawg Corps is an organization designed to motivate the fans," Dunn said. "We are a group that has been given permission to act wild and crazy as well as cheer on our team. We are trying to make it cool to go to the games."

The Bulldawg Corps, developed this fall, is a Tech spirit organization sponsored by the Student Government Association. Members attend the games, leading the fans in cheering on the team and help promote athletic events through advertisement.

Dunn said the only requirement to join is you must be a committed student.

"Bulldawg Corps members represent the model Tech fan, attend most sporting events and are always outgoing and spirited," Dunn said.

Jules SaunŽe, vice president of spirit events and a sophomore civil engineering major, said the Bulldawg Corps has improved the crowd participation at games.

"Last year, when there was not a Bulldawg Corps, I would go to the games and sit in the student section. We would cheer, but it was nothing pumped up and crazy," SaunŽe said.

"Now that we have the Corps, the spirit at the games is contagious."

LaBreeska Wilkinson, secretary of the Bulldawg Corps and a freshman business management and entrepreneurship major, said the Bulldawg Corps is a great way to participate in school.

"When I was in high school I was very involved," Wilkinson said. "So when I came to college, I did not want to be just another student. I wanted to stand out and be involved."

SaunŽe said he enjoys the camaraderie among the Bulldawg Corps.

"I've met so many people," he said. "At the beginning of the year, I only knew my group of friends, but now I know the whole [SGA]."

Claudia Thomas, a freshman family and child studies major, said besides the great involvement around campus, the Bulldawg Corps encourages Tech's teams to win.

"I think having [the Bulldawg Corps at the games] and showing their support toward the sports really does help the team to know they have a great group cheering them on."

Applications for the Bulldawg Corps are available in the SGA office or on the Web site http://www.latech.edu/tech/orgs/sga/bdcorps.htm.

Dunn said he has roughly 50 members, but hopes to see many more.

"[Students] need to support their team," Dunn said. "After they leave Tech they will always look back on their college career. I don't want them to say, 'Man, I wish I did more.'"