n I would like to echo the statements made in yesterday’s letter to the editor (“Swearing regulations won’t hurt Terrier hockey fans,” Sept. 12, p. 7) from Senior Dog Pound leader Matt Bain. I am in agreement with the new policies set forth by university administration and Agganis Arena management regarding fan behavior at sporting events, namely Terrier hockey games. While I was at first resistant to the new policies when I was made aware of them over the summer, having been through multiple years of “The Song,” I believe the administration wants to keep the storied tradition of the Dog Pound. When considering their logic, it becomes clearer why these policies will be implemented. During each home game, the widely known expletive-laced cheer directed at our Chestnut Hill friends is often performed more than five times per game, sometimes upwards of 10 times. Once before the second period, after every goal, and at the beginning of every BU power play.
Swearing to this extent does not occur at other universities known for rowdy student sections such as the Cameron Crazies at Duke University, and I admit we take it too far. I’ve heard this argument about other schools from numerous students to whom I’ve conveyed the new policy. Now that this issue has garnered national attention, let’s get the new policy straight. BU will not be stationing Polite Police on either side of section 118 waiting for any BU student to whisper an expletive under his or her breath. What they will be doing is looking for students who are openly and loudly using profanity directed at the opposition or officials. Which begs the question, what is the administration’s definition of “profanity”? While this is as hazy as Bill Clinton’s definition of “is,” my interpretation is that it refers to those words that are not allowed on television.
Thus, I believe we will still be able to tell our Chestnut Hill friends how much they, well, suck. In addition, our better cheers are actually expletive-free.
“Touchdown Regan” and “If you can’t get into college…” come to mind. Administrators have echoed this sentiment as well. This will take some getting used to. At the beginning of the second period, BU fans have always gotten on our feet. We’ve jumped like crazy screaming at our Chestnut Hill friends, but there will be no expletives, and we will have to respond to poor officiating and overly aggressive opponents accordingly. Come this winter, I plan to wear my jersey, paint my face, put on my cowboy hat and scream louder than I’ve ever screamed, and I urge all BU students to join me and all Dog Pound members in helping to lead our team to St. Louis this coming April.
Let’s not let this issue divide us. This is not about us, the students. This is about our team. We should never forget that. May “The Song” as we have come to know it, live in infamy and in silence. Go BU.
Steve Thaw
COM ’08