On Feb. 8, two SIC SIC members were revealed. Jillian Filipiak and Dwayne Lawson, better known as Granny and Black Panther, were unmasked in the Slater Family Ice Arena.
Filipiak said she has been feeling different kinds of emotions over being revealed.
“I would definitely say there’s a huge variety of emotions for sure, definitely just an overwhelming sense of gratitude,” Filipiak said “I would say there’s a little bit of sadness too, you know, everyone knows now, and I’m not really going to ever go out as Granny again.”
While Lawson said he has been feeling powerless.
“It’s like all my powers of being secret got stripped away from me. You know, once it came off (his mask), there’s no more hiding that,” Lawson said.
Neither of the newly unmasked members liked lying to their close ones about their whereabouts, but they both collectively enjoyed their secret identity.
“Honestly, I think it was fun, having to maneuver around campus like a ninja. It was a cool experience and it was fun,” Lawson said “I don’t like to lie, but it was fun having to keep that seat.”
Filipiak opened up about her experience with becoming a member of SICSIC and how she was not interested in the beginning.
“I actually thought they were so creepy and I did not understand why we had to have something like this,” Filipiak said.
It wasn’t until Filipiak went to the unmasking her freshman year that she gained some curiosity about SICSIC and what they were about. Soon after, she applied to be a member.
“I went to my first interview and I was really intrigued by being interviewed by these mysterious people that I did not know,” she said. “Then as I kept going through interviews, I read a lot more about the history of the group, the traditions and the overall purpose of having SIC SIC at BG and I just fell in love with the idea.”
The experience for Lawson went a little different, with him feeling it would be out of character for him to join a group like SIC SIC.
“At first, when I heard about SIC SIC I was like, no, I can’t do this. This is out of character for me. There’s no way I would do something like that,” Lawson said.
However, during his time of getting to know the group more and their involvement, Lawson realized it was meant for him.
“But as I went through the process of the interviews and all that, I think I was right for this group and I think, me being who I am, the person that just likes to put smiles on people’s faces and just making people’s day,” Lawson said. “I think that positivity was perfect for what I was trying to do here with SIC SIC, and it was a great time.”
After interviewing and preparing for this new task, both members agreed they made the right decision to become members of the spirit club. Filipiak enjoyed interacting with students as her alter ego Granny.
“The big moments of football games, Homecoming and unmasking, they’re great, but I feel like one-on-one moments really mean a lot to us,” Filipiak said.
Lawson agreed these small moments with students as SICSIC members bring spirit to campus, creating a community for students.
“I think it gathers like a group of people to bring unity to campus and it helps involve community here at BGSU and I think it’s very important to have that because it gives people a safe place at BGSU,” Lawson said.
Both newly revealed members will cherish these interactions, the community and the overall experience of being a member of SIC SIC as they graduate and move forward.
“I feel like I could speak for both of us in the fact that we’ve just been so grateful for this experience. It’s such a longstanding tradition at BG and just to have the opportunity to carry on the legacy, it’s just been so awesome,” Filipiak said.
