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

[@stevemondragon5499]

This was awesome!!

[@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.

[@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?

[@raymondweaver8526]

I am sure Dr Berz helped drive this as well

[@rbridgman1]

Wow...phenomenal. Chills!

[@ritadelao704]

Phenomenal arrangement! Superb!

[@stizz8707]

This is an amazing song, I'm happy no one has messed it up over all these years.

[@raymondweaver8526]

It has been officially changed to remove male references. I was taught the old version in 80s and my daughter taught the new version as part of the 250th Class 30 years later

[@harryfrezza2563]

The old Raritan has a habit of overflowing its banks....

[@raymondweaver8526]

When I was in the marching band in the 80s, our director, Dr. Berz taught is to sing The Rutgers Alma Mater in 4 part harmony

[@MrKochfour]

Great version of "On the Banks of the Raritan"

[@ashleycostello4]

Michael Lucas Strother is great composer, and I consider myself very fortunate to be able to listen to his wonderful music whenever I feel like.

[@JoshLeRose]

Wish I got a chance to perform this!

[@harryfrezza1931]

Go RU!

[@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!

[@OperaLAV]

Fabulous!!

[@peterhawkins3004]

Bravo!

[@michaelar6609]

all hail rutgers......

[@navsquid32]

I go to MIT with Michael Strother's brother.

[@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.

[@JoshLeRose]

oof

[@raymondweaver8526]

It has been officially changed

[@ianmoore3470]

I go back and forth but they have changed it, history but I understand it

[@Literallyarealhuman]

As a woman in a male dominated industry, I would consider it a compliment to be one of the boys. I hope they never change it.

[@NYCER4LIFE]

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.

[@mattmac1271]

NYCER4LIFE the song was the way it was because the first verse is sung by the guys and the second the girls

[@Literallyarealhuman]

As a woman in a male dominated industry, I would be honored to sing a song with the words boys in it. It would mean I was accepted in a space that admittedly is not easy for women to get into. reality.

[@mattmac1271]

My two fathers or mothers sent me off to Rutgers...and resolved that my gender was whatever I wanted it to be !

[@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.