In the fall 2012, women’s club Ko Jo Kai and men’s club Knights started a new tradition that brought fun and excitement to the new and old members of these clubs. During Club Week 2012, Kojies asked Knights to perform the Kojie Rumble with them at All-Club Devo Thursday night.
The Kojie Rumble was one of the most loved traditions of Ko Jo Kai, and every year, the new ladybugs who circled up to perform this chant were welcomed by members from every club with rounds of applause.
Last year Kojies and Knights did the rumble together on their respective stands in the GAC, but this fall, the Kojies inductees got on the floor of the GAC and yelled out to the Knights inductees, “Hey, Knights! Wanna rumble?”
Knights then left the stands and joined Kojies on the floor. During the second and third choruses of the chant, the old members of both clubs surrounded the new members and rumbled with them.
While it was unclear why Kojies and Knights started doing the Rumble together, both clubs were happy to repeat the hit from 2012.
“I don’t know where it came from, but Knights are probably one of the most fun guys’ clubs on campus,” senior and Kojie president Alley Robison said. “When Knights do something, they go all in on it. It made the Rumble 10 times better than if we did it without them.”
Robison and senior Ko Jo Kai member and Knights queen Lily Armstrong were in charge of teaching the Rumble to the pledges in the fall 2013. According to Robison, the inductees came to love the Rumble and performed with enthusiasm.
“When I first walked up to them, they were not really sure why I was there,” Robison said. “Later they told me that was their favorite part of the week, and when they started doing the cheer around me, I saw how excited they were, and I really felt the energy around me.”
According to freshman Knights member Garrett Ragin, because Knights and Kojies did not do a lot together, doing the Rumble together was a bonding experience.
“Rumbling together broke down the barrier and now we have something between us,” Ragin said. “Kojies are a bunch of fun girls, and we are a goofy group. We know we will have fun with each other.”
Knights’ only known cheer was “jump shake your booty.” Every other night of All-Club Devo, the inductees had to come up with a new cheer, which were often interactive and energetic.
According to Ragin, who joined Knights in 2012, doing the rumble helped relieve the stress of the seriousness of the week. Junior Knights member Morgan Smith echoed Ragin’s sentiment.
“Club week is really tough,” Smith said. “Practicing the Kojie Rumble takes the inductees’] minds off from the intimidation and seriousness, and doing the Rumble in the GAC releases them from the seriousness of All-Club.”
This moment of connection strengthened the bond between Kojies and Knights. Last year’s Knights king, the Knights’ title for president, was senior Kevin Betts who was also a beau for Kojies. In the fall of 2012 and spring 2013, two Kojies were queened for Knights: junior Hayley Smith and Armstrong.
According to Robison, Knights and Kojies doing the Rumble together was a good and fun example for other clubs to branch out and interact with each other.
