Everywhere in American colleges, local boosters exert great effort to welcome opponents' players and fans, inviting them to share food and drink with them, to show them the sort of hospitality that the finest people-- with the finest educations-- always show. Likewise, the hosting college budgets large amounts of money to market sporting event, to entice other schools and their fans to visit. This augments game attendance, which brings in funds for the sports program which it also enhances support for all of an initituion's programs.
At the same time, local governments invest much time, manpower, and money to improving local colleges, in part because it attracts tourists- particularly athletic opponents- to the region.
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 all that, when opposing schools visit, there will always be some students and fans who insult these people. Curse them. Make obscene gestures at them.
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".
This happens at every college in the US. Everyone knows about the problem. But no one does anything about it.
It is an outrage. College administrators, elected student governments, alumni associations, players, coaches and athletics officers need to step up. They need to demand that supporters do what is expected of them, without even thinking about it:
Produce alumni and students who know better. - 16928
At the same time, local governments invest much time, manpower, and money to improving local colleges, in part because it attracts tourists- particularly athletic opponents- to the region.
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 all that, when opposing schools visit, there will always be some students and fans who insult these people. Curse them. Make obscene gestures at them.
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".
This happens at every college in the US. Everyone knows about the problem. But no one does anything about it.
It is an outrage. College administrators, elected student governments, alumni associations, players, coaches and athletics officers need to step up. They need to demand that supporters do what is expected of them, without even thinking about it:
Produce alumni and students who know better. - 16928
About the Author:
Joseph N. Abraham is the President and Founder of the Acadiana Educational Endowment and booksXYZ.com the nonprofit bookstore supporting education.
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