All across the US, in all colleges, many college sports fans make great efforts to host opposing teams and their supports to join them, to provide them with the best in hospitality. At the same time, the home team college expends much money marketing games, to encourage other teams and their supports to visit, which increases attendance, which boosts revenues for the teams, and also generates support for all of the college's programs.
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.
Finally, former students and others at each instituion donate from their pockets, to promote their college as a font of school and community pride, for everyone involved, for the prestige of serving as leaders in various academic, intellectual, and civic fields.
And then? After all of that? When the visitors arrive, without fail some supporters and students will taunt these people. Hurl oaths at them. Even show them hand gestures that are simply not allowed in civilized society.
And they "Boo" them. After everyone has gone through so much effort to showcase the college and the community, to demonstrate what a college stands for, and what an enlightened and friendly community the college and community are, when visiting fans come through the tailgating areas, and when visiting teams enter the field, they are booed.
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 happens everywhere, all across the country. It's not a secret, everyone recognizes it. But they do nothing anything about 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:
Produce alumni and students who know better. - 16492
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.
Finally, former students and others at each instituion donate from their pockets, to promote their college as a font of school and community pride, for everyone involved, for the prestige of serving as leaders in various academic, intellectual, and civic fields.
And then? After all of that? When the visitors arrive, without fail some supporters and students will taunt these people. Hurl oaths at them. Even show them hand gestures that are simply not allowed in civilized society.
And they "Boo" them. After everyone has gone through so much effort to showcase the college and the community, to demonstrate what a college stands for, and what an enlightened and friendly community the college and community are, when visiting fans come through the tailgating areas, and when visiting teams enter the field, they are booed.
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 happens everywhere, all across the country. It's not a secret, everyone recognizes it. But they do nothing anything about 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:
Produce alumni and students who know better. - 16492
About the Author:
Joseph N. Abraham is the President of the Acadiana Educational Endowment and booksXYZ.com the nonprofit bookstore supporting education.
