The ripples of disapproval that were created after Terp fans launched offensive cheers and jeers at the Navy football game earlier this month continue to make waves, although many — including the interim university president and this editorial board — don’t seem to understand why.
Since the Sept. 6 game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, parents and alumni have voiced their disapproval of the raucous atmosphere that erupts at university sporting events. University President-designate Wallace Loh and other faculty members have expressed displeasure and even embarrassment at fans’ behavior. Leaders in the Student Government Association have taken on the issue, calling for a student-led sportsmanship committee to combat this atmosphere of crudeness.
What all this attention has done is make foul words used at a football game — or more poignantly, the definition of sportsmanship — a dominant issue at this university, despite the other problems it faces. Regardless of the message coming from Loh and the SGA, not all administrators appear to be on board. Interim university President Nariman Farvardin said earlier this week that the university has “bigger fish to fry,” rather than wasting time on a sportsmanship committee.
And indeed we do.
The university is facing a dramatic shift in leadership during a gubernatorial election year that could signal a significant shift in state support for higher education. On top of that, there are still mandatory furloughs, departments struggling with resources yet to recover from the recession and a student body still rebuilding the trust in university leaders it lost after the March riot and a year of transparency gaffes.
The fact of the matter is, students — especially when fueled by alcohol and competition — do not like being told what to do. And an attempt to do that will simply paint the SGA as disconnected with those they represent and in the pocket of administrators. What’s more, the solutions for preventing students from chanting “Hey, you suck!” border on Orwellian and absurd. Will we have speech moderators patrolling the stands ready to muzzle anyone who dares speak ill about the opposing team? Or will we delegate another unnecessary job to University Police so they can be in charge of monitoring foul language instead of catching criminals? There is no reasonable solution to combating college revelry among thousands of fans, which the SGA will soon discover.
Moreover, this is ultimately a freedom of speech issue. Students, whether administrators and others like it or not, have every right to yell “f— Navy” till their throats turn raw. It may not be appropriate or mature, but obscenities are as American as apple pie — just ask the Supreme Court.
The largest complaints about fan behavior seem to be coming from parents who bring their young children to games, and perhaps rightfully so. It’s hard not to cringe when someone is obliviously swearing in front of a child, let alone when it’s a crowd of thousands cursing in unison. Although the parental instinct is to shield virgin ears from such language, parents shouldn’t be caught so off guard. As all of us know, these aren’t words that will not be heard at some point on the school bus, playground or even on television. Hearing a bad word isn’t great for kids, but it can be a teachable moment. And it certainly won’t shake the foundations of our society.
Although allusions have been made to years past when students donned in sweaters and poodle skirts would rehearse nice, clean cheers for gameday, those days are long gone. It is ultimately up to fans themselves whether they decide to use a “bad word” or exercise some self-restraint. And it is up to those that are offended to either cover their ears or look the other way. Attempts to combat this “problem” will only fuel it.
Farvardin was absolutely right when he dismissed elevating this issue to such great heights. While some may find offense in the obscene language and gestures that some Terp fans display at sporting events, the university community should instead be offended by the credence given to such a meaningless and futile issue. We do have bigger fish to fry. Let’s get cooking.
