The Pork
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Pork is the main reference used regarding a student and alumni group originally started at The University of Arizona by members of the school's marching band, The Pride of Arizona, in the mid 1990's. The group's foundation is formed mainly of trumpet players, alongside other musicians. Another name, used concurrently but mainly by the alumni, is Big Slice.
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[edit] Etymology
The Pork received their name after a late night assembly that devolved into TV watching. One member of the 3rd trumpets happened to stumble upon a McDonald's commercial for, what was at that time, a new sandwich: The McRib. The commercial's voiceover intoned: "A big slice of pork, swimming in a sassy sauce. McRib. Chomp!" The group's instantaneous and unanimous recognition of the inane silliness of the commercial prompted the adoption of the voiceover as a catchphrase motto. Chanting the phrase in a group is referred to as "calling a Big Slice."
[edit] Mission and Values
The ideals of The Pork center around increasing brotherhood and reducing stress from what is present in the greater community of the membership.
The organization has been a way of creating and stimulating memories through camaraderie and traditions, and has also created various outlets to express the thoughts and attitues that reflect the spirit of each member.
[edit] Traditions
Some of the many traditions practiced by The Pork:
- Chanting of the Big Slice
- Publication of a spoof community newsletter
- Mock motivational phrases, such as:
- Pound it!
- Eat the S__T out of it!
- A looped chant:
- SPAM! Pork product, pork product, it's in the can! SPAM!
- Various other pseudo slogans, incanted in call and response format. Several of these begin:
- 20%??
- And I said, wrecked 'em...
- It's all fun and games...
- Closty sez...
- OH NO! OH NO!
- The polyphonic singing of a choral refrain from Pink Floyd's Outside The Wall
- Each member, whether true or honorary, recognizes the next as a brother or sister of Pi Omicron Rho Kappa
[edit] Legacies
- The Pork Alumni has been granted official status as a University of Arizona Band Alumni group for homecoming events, under the Big Slice name in the past
- The Pork have an engraved tile with an allusion to the Big Slice motto on it in The University of Arizona's Legacy Lane, in front of the Eddie Lynch Athletics Pavilion at The Mckale Memorial Center Arena
- The Pork lent its name to Pork Records, the DIY record label of the ska/punk/metal band Troy's Bucket, founded by several early members of The Pork
- All members of The Pride of Arizona, and many other game attendants, sing the Big Slice motto along to the theme of Carmina Burana when played at University of Arizona football games.
[edit] Controversy
The Pork has been considered a renegade organization at times, receiving sanctions from the band's director and causing intermittent rivalry with the band's more mainstream student groups. These groups include the band fraternity (Kappa Kappa Psi) and sorority (Tau Beta Sigma), as well as the official University of Arizona Alumni Band.
