Rethink the Rivalry: It’s unfair to discourage anyone from applying to Mizzou based on their rivalry with KU

After I pulled into the Mission Hills Country Club parking lot, I walked inside to the gym sporting my brand new Missouri Tigers sweatshirt that I’d just bought at Meet Mizzou Day a few days prior. 

To me, that sweatshirt commemorated the amazing day I had exploring the University of Missouri campus. It reminded me of all of the things I loved about Mizzou — their highly-regarded journalism school, the award-winning recreation center and the iconic columns at the center of the quad. 

But to the several people I saw while walking to the gym, it was something they needed to comment on.

“Rock Chalk.”

“Did you lose a bet or something? Why are you wearing that?”

I’ve learned to laugh off the harmless digs fired my way when I tell people that I want to go to Mizzou. I understand that I live in a Jayhawk-dominated area, and I can live with jokes about how Mizzou sucks or how I should go to KU. 

But genuinely judging or criticizing my college choice? That’s going too far.

It’s comments like, “Mizzou is a garbage school” and “There’s nothing MU has that KU doesn’t” that make me question my love for the school. Picking a college is already difficult enough, so why do people chastise me for wanting to go to a school they don’t like?

I get that it’s surprising to some people that I want to go to Mizzou considering my background. I’m the daughter of two KU alumni and both of my siblings went there too. When people hear this, they assume I’ll go there too.

But that’s no excuse to try to convince me where I should go to college. Following in my family’s footsteps is an exhausting expectation to live up to. As I think about my future college plans, I want it to be a decision that I made. 

Last time I checked, I’m the one going off to college next year. And while I’m open to input from others about my decision, some comments should simply be kept to yourself. If you have genuine critiques about Mizzou that don’t relate to their relationship with KU, I’m open to hear them. But it’s not my problem you don’t like MU just because they’re rivals with KU. 

I’m not letting a rivalry impact my college choice. There are a lot of other factors when you choose a college besides their sports teams. KU and Mizzou aren’t even in the same conference anymore — why does it matter so much?

And me going to Mizzou doesn’t mean I’ll lose my love for Lawrence, Kansas. Being surrounded with crimson and blue and screaming the classic “Rock Chalk Jayhawk” chant until my throat hurts has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ll still root for the Jayhawks — just maybe a little more discreetly.

Besides, a year from now I could be committed to KU and touring Mizzou could’ve been a waste of time. But I promise you that your snarky comments will not change my mind on where I want to go to college.