On Low-class Education, And Low-class Fans
February 17, 2008 – 12:03 amAt every college & university, there are always supporters who go through great lengths to invite opposing fans to join them, to show them proper collegial hospitality. With that, the host institution spends a great deal of money promoting games, so that teams and fans will visit, boost attendance, improve sports programs, and thereby gather support for the college overall.
In tandem, the city, county and state governments sink a lot of money, attention, and effort to improve local colleges, at least partially so that tourists- which in this case means the opponents- will visit and put money into local coffers and the tax base.
Moreover, alumni and fans of each college donate their own money to the alma mater, to serve as a vehicle for community and school pride, for the fans and the students, and so that other schools will begin to see them as leaders in various areas.
And after everyone has put forth so much effort, when the opponents arrive, some fans and students will offend these people. Hurl obscenities at them. Even make vulgar gestures at them.
And perhaps most vulgar, they “Boo”. After all of that effort, attempting to show off the institution and the town, attempting to prove what higher education is all about, and working to prove what a civilized and warm college and community they are, when the opponents walk through the tailgating, and worse– when the opposing teams take the field– the crowd boos them.
These are what college education is all about? These are your students, your alumni? These are the smartest and best of your community? These is your source of leadership? This is the quality of your college degree?
This will not do. “Big time” has nothing to do with “lowlife”.
But every week, it takes place all across the US. Everyone sees it; but absolutely no one addresses it.
This simply cannot be tolerated. It is time for the student governments, the college administrations, the alumni associations, and the athletics departments to do what a University is supposed to do:
Insist that alumni and students act like college material.
Tags: College University
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