Alumni Hall is bustling with energy as a sea of green quarter zips and black patchwork leather jackets flood the stands of the stadium. The sound of a dribbling basketball and squeaking sneakers fills the room as students cheer their peers on, chants and laughter erupting from either side. Engineering students are on one side and Ivey students are on the other, both bearing dozens of signs taunting the opposing faculty. “Lead the change, don’t just build it” reads one bright green sign, with a purple sign on the opposing side rebutting that “LinkedIn connections don’t win games.” This is a typical scene for games of the Faculty of Engineering versus Ivey School of Business series, which are some of the most spirited sports events on Western’s campus. But, how did this rivalry come to be?
Eng-Ivey hockey has been a longstanding tradition at Western, but the basketball rivalry was officially introduced this past February. Following its resounding success, the competition expanded to include basketball the following school year, resulting in the first fall semester game. Saanvi Kapoor, a fourth-year Ivey business student, is currently the Director of Basketball for this year’s Ivey undergraduate student council (HBAA). Kapoor described the atmosphere as akin to an American college sports event, a refreshing and exciting experience for many Canadian university students. She credits the game's success and excitement to the inherent pride and competitive spirit of each faculty, noting, "Engineering and Ivey both have very close-knit cultures. With two high-achieving faculties, it is natural for them to ‘beef’ each other in fun and games.”
With the infectious energy in Alumni Hall, it is hard to believe that basketball is a recent addition to the world of Eng-Ivey sports. What the crowd doesn’t see is countless hours the HBAA and the Undergraduate Engineering Society (UES) spent planning. From conducting tryouts to booking venues and selling tickets, planning a large-scale event is no easy feat and planning starts before the school year commences. “You would be surprised at how much students do – they run the portfolios, they run almost every event, and they do all the heavy lifting” says Kapoor.
The prevalence of sports in Ivey’s culture extends far beyond the Eng-Ivey rivalry in Alumni Hall – sports play a pivotal part at Ivey, starting from day one. Ivey’s Orientation Week features an Olympics Day with games such as dodgeball and tug-of-war. This competition builds camaraderie within sections from the get-go, as Kapoor reflected on the ability of “team sports to bring people together when they barely know each other.” Friendly competition persists throughout the year, with the ongoing Ivey Cup encouraging students to fundraise, whether it’s through sports tournaments or food drives. “I think Ivey does a really good job of integrating the camaraderie that comes out of sports into our curriculum”, Kapoor revealed. She highlighted the underlying importance of sports in Ivey: “utilizing the competitive spirit that business students have and channeling it into good mediums.”
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After two quarters of fierce blocks, emphatic dunks, and nonstop chanting, the entire gymnasium paused to take a collective breath for the half-time show. Krush, a thrilling rock band, took the stage, the lights turned off, and fans set their posters down. Looking across the gym, distinct crowds of green and purple transformed into a sea of waving phone flashlights, each indistinguishable from the next. All singing in unison, these competitive spectators were reminded – even if only for 15 minutes – that they were all on the same team. That is, of course, until the third quarter started, and the competitive edge came back with full force.
After even more energy and cheers throughout the last half of the game, the night was drawn to a close. Due to the significant contributions of Saanvi and her committee, the event ultimately raised over $13,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, and each player and viewer had an incredible experience. There is no doubt that the Ivey vs Engineering Men’s Basketball Game will become a staple in HBA and Engineering culture, and we are privileged to have witnessed it in its early stages.
If you’re curious, the final scoreboard read Ivey 93-86 Engineering.
But who’s keeping score, right?