Rutgers University Alma Mater: "On the Banks of the Old Raritan"

[jsg03jd]

Get a grip on the PC stuff, folks. Should women not be allowed to sing their Alma Mater song too? If we're going with the argument that this interpretation is the epitome of PC run amok and that RU should stick to its pre-Revolutionary roots of being only open to white male students then that really narrows down who can sing this. More importantly, what was the occasion for arranging the song like this? We didn't have an opportunity to sing this with a full orchestra back when I was a student.

[LaRomaBella]

@jsg03jd We sang this, along with other pieces, as a part of the capital campaign kickoff for the University last year. It was an amazing experience!

[flattop55]

Wow!!  This really was incredible and brought a tear to the eye! Rutgers all the way!!

[OperaLAV]

Fabulous!!

[vortlevooper]

Great arrangement! Who cares if it sounds a bit like John Williams? The Rutgers Music Dept. has come a long way since I played in the marching and symphonic band from '68 to '72, and the Univ. has to be well commended for supporting music and the arts. They are lucky to have a Michael Strother with the interest to turn the Alma Mater into an inspiring orchestral and choral arrangement. How many other universities have had their alma mater turned into such a showpiece as Rutgers now has?

[dschneider011]

Music is in the ear of the beholder... I appreciate the effort, but the outcome is a bit John Williams.

[jgaynor]

PC arguments aside, this arrangement is awful. It's like Alma Mater meets Lawrence of Arabia with a side helping of every modern soundtrack trope in the book.

[Nighthawk186]

As a current student, and someone who was in this choir in this video, I neither knew nor care about the fact that it used to be 'my boys'. I was proud to stand there and sing this new arrangement and got chills when the audience stood up and started clapping. Changing the one word doesn't change the meaning of the song.

[hankthetank6688]

theres my siser...

[radioguy7]

Gorgeous. One of the most beautiful of the traditional colonial college alma maters with lyrics that are quite indicative of time and place.

[BostonJimmy]

@radioguy7

Political correctness run amok, not indicitive of a pre Revolutionary War College.

[BostonJimmy]

GAVE me chills.  I do not like that they used the politically correct version, it is disgusting that the University does this. Rutgers was a pre Revolutionary War school and the alma mater should reflect this. Caving to the PC people is appalling.

[rbridgman1]

Wow...phenomenal. Chills!

[MrKochfour]

Great version of "On the Banks of the Raritan"

[sandy7395]

Not political correctness, just correctness, when the song was first written Rutgers was an all "boys" school. They still sing " that I should become a MAN ". Be happy they haven't changed that YET. I think this is a great version an excellently presented.

[rich9862003]

When did 'my boys' get changed to 'my friends'? Is this another concession to political correctness?