March of pride

There are few students who could carry a gun through Memorial Stadium on game day and receive silent respect from the crowd. But for the members of the IU Pershing Rifle Society, it's just another Saturday.\nThe organization, which traces its roots back to a group formed more than a century ago, presents the American flag at all home football and basketball games and many ceremonial events throughout Bloomington.\nBut despite its time-honored history, the IU Pershing Rifle Society has been plagued in recent years by a lack of interest.\nMaj. Todd Tinius, a retired Army officer and adviser for the organization, said the society at IU, which is traditionally made up of almost entirely Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets, was once a much more popular organization.\n"A lot of programs across the country have dried up," he said.\nFrom the early 1990s until 1996 -- while the U.S. military was actively downsizing -- the organization disappeared due to lack of interest, Tinius said.\nA nationwide drop in ROTC membership could be a possible cause for the declining interest, he said. \nBut now, the Pershing Rifle Society seems to be on the rebound.\nThe group is 14 members strong and training four more for duties this year. \nSenior Stephen Lawson, the organization's commanding officer, said he loves the thrill of carrying the American flag at big events like football games.\n"You're standing there in uniform, everyone knows who you are and you're on the Jumbotron. It's a great feeling," Lawson said. "It's a little intimidating to start with -- it really is -- but you actually have a lot of adrenaline."\nLawson, a three-year member of the society and a cadet in the Army ROTC, said he has witnessed a direct relation between the rigorous ROTC program and the challenges he has faced through the rifle society.\n"We train so much, you know you have it down," Lawson said. "We settle for nothing less than perfect."\nThe Pershing Rifle Society began in 1891 at the University of Nebraska under Gen. John Pershing. In hopes of boosting company morale, Pershing created a select company of men who served as color guards and competed against other military drill teams. \nThe competitive aspect of the society still exists through a national convention that serves as the culminating event. Over the past few years, IU has been successful at the competition, earning second-place finishes in 2004 and 2005.\n"You start off with a regulation platoon, which is 13 or more people with one commander," Lawson said, explaining the setup of competitions. "Basically you give off a set of commands and you execute them with rifles," he said. "You march around the hall and get graded on every aspect."\nFreshman Nicholas Banich, a second-generation Pershing Rifle Society member, said he was encouraged by the available leadership opportunities, yet acknowledged that the mental training is quite challenging.\n"I feel like I have to show the active members that I have what it takes to be one of their peers," he said. "I must do everything they ask of me and go beyond what is required." \nPeople like Lt. Fred Hearsey, an IU alumnus and former Pershing Rifle Society member, understands the importance of such training.\n"At basketball games, you are going to have so many people screaming and saying crap to you, but you can't move," Hearsey said.\nLawson agreed that the mental discipline is important but also stressed the brotherhood of the fraternity.\n"It just comes down to (that) it's a big group friends," Lawson said. "But there is a mission we accomplish every time"