College athletics promote unity and camaraderie across campuses of every size and shape.

The reason collegiate sports are so passionately followed is because the events offer a chance for students to root for their fellow student athletes. It creates a bond of peers unlike anything else in a college setting, with maybe the exception of cramming for midterms.

The NIU Athletics department has taken this unity of student fans and student athletes one step further and blurred the lines between the two admirably.

When NIU student Damone Shinault approached the Huskie Stadium crew with his song “Huskie Country” in an attempt to get it played during contests, the university and its staff could have easily said no.

They could have not put faith in an unproven student, and stuck to the tired cliche “Who Let the Dogs Out” and old AC/DC staples.

Instead, the school and athletic department offered a student his chance to connect with the athletes by doing what he does best — showing his Huskie spirit through music.

Kudos to the stadium crew for not turning Shinault away. In fact, the communication major has taken more steps to show his school spirit publicly. He’s recorded a tune for the women’s basketball team and shows no sign of slowing down.

In an era when athletes seem disjointed from students because of intense media coverage. And at a time when the university pumps more money into sports than ever before, this is a way to connect to the student body.

The Northern Star — and Shinault — sing the praises of this decision.