The location of pep rallies at St. Andrew’s has been a topic of discussion during football season since the ARC opened in 2017. “I’ve always liked the old gym better,” student Sawyer Bond said. “I guess it just seems more fun.” So it’s time to dive into the pros and cons of both. 

The old gym seems to be the more popular choice among students, and for several reasons. “I think it’s mostly the environment,” Bond said. “The lighting, the sounds, it’s all just better.” Due to the ARC’s design, it’s nearly impossible to prevent pep rallies from being flooded with natural light which can be great for a basketball game but frustrating for pep rally goers. 

Not everyone feels the same though, like student Emily Alexander who likes the ARC more. “I mean it’s just inconvenient that we don’t have the old gym,” Alexander said. “But I like the ARC better anyway.”

Unfortunately, the old gym can’t be used this year due to a leak in the floor. “We have to have another big rain to see if they fixed the problem,” strength and conditioning coach Joe Ray said. “They just gotta find out if they’ve fixed the problem first.” 

“I feel like we’re all just waiting for the floor to be fixed,” student Karcher Devoss said. “The ARC just doesn’t feel the same.”