n Earlier this week, I read The Daily Free Press article on Boston University’s new policy regarding language at hockey games (“New arena policy bans obscenity,” Sept. 11, p. 1). I’ve also been following the story in The Boston Globe, Fox News and ESPN. And I’ve been reading many of letters that BU student have been submitting into the Free Press, complaining about the new policy and what effect it will have on hockey here at BU. I agree wholeheartedly that what students say and do at hockey games should be entirely their own decision, seeing as we are all grown-ups and fully capable of making those decisions on our own.

I feel, however, that many of the letters are forgetting something important about this story. While BU is well-known in the college community for its many impressive achievements, we are possibly more renowned for hockey, and even more so than that, for our fanaticism and our undying pride in everything scarlet. For many of us, hockey is a part of our world and celebrating our team keeps us going.

The simple fact that the administration has attempted to censor its students is an action that will tarnish our reputation among students at opposing universities, giving them ammunition to yell at our players during games.

How the athletic department and its student body could be on such a different page of the same story is embarrassing. In censoring us, the administration has treated us all like children. Nothing can undo what Athletic Director Mike Lynch has done. We will forever be the school whose administration made us quiet down. But that only means that we need to work harder in proving that our fans are the best fans. Here at BU, we bleed scarlet and that is something to be proud of.

Adam Chartoff

COM ’09