The University Daily Kansan emphasizes the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peacefully to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
COLAIANNI: Rising ticket prices and rowdy fan behavior are preventing many families from enjoying college and professional sports See kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16,2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 5A
OUR VIEW
Trim winter break, observe all holidays
Last week, the post offices were closed and government buildings shut down while many Americans paid tribute to our men and women in the armed forces on Veterans Day. Yet students and faculty, some of whom are veterans themselves, had to go to class on Friday
because the University does not give students the day off.
The University paid tribute to our veterans on Saturday but failed to observe the federal holiday on Friday. It's time the Kansas Board of Education look at observing federal holidays such as Veterans Day and
President's Day. Not only could students use more three-day breaks, but it's also important to remember the meanings behind these holidays, especially Veterans Day.
Here's a suggestion for the decision makers: Look at the University's ridiculously long
winter break. Students can't wait to get back on campus after more than a month away from school. Instead of giving students 34 days for break, let's substitute a couple of these day to observe the federal holidays.
We already observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and much
like the events that remember this powerful leader, we too should remember our nation's veterans and those in active service. A University that continues to remember its veterans with such iconic structures as the Campanile, which is dedicated to World War II veterans.
and Memorial Stadium, which is dedicated to World War I veterans, should take time out to remember our fellow Jayhawks who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Louis Mora for the editorial board.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
As football rivalry game nears, true colors show
That was me wearing the K-State gear at the KU-Oklahoma State football game a few weeks ago, the lone K-Stater in the entire stadium. My girlfriend is a proud KU fan, and yes, she wanted me to wear something blue or red. Sorry, but I can't do that.
I am not a bad person. You may not know it, but I'm a KU grad with a masters' degree in health services administration. My son and I lived at Stauffer Place. I joined the KU Marching Band, but backed out because the Saturday morning rehearsals meant I would not get to see him play soccer. We attended church at the St. Lawrence Center, where my son was one of the altar boys for the first mass. I worked part-time at McDonald's my first year (not so much fun), and during my final year I worked at SUA (a
lot of fun). Yes, we were very happy when the University won the NCAA men's basketball championship the year after I graduated.
My son (sorry, another K-State grad) and I have a lot of good memories of KU. You're our No. 2 school, but only because K-State gave us great memories before our time with you even existed.
This weekend I will be one of the many purple K-State fans in the stadium. Some of us will have ties to KU or Lawrence, but hey, we support K-State. Life is rough. I know that rivalry between the two schools is good, and I know we'll see a great game. It's what makes college football Saturdays great.
Ed Gonzales, Alum Overland Park, KS
FREE FOR ALL Call 864-0500
Free for All callers have 20 seconds to speak about any topic they wish. Kansan editors reserve the right to omit comments. Slanderous and obscene statements will not be printed. Phone numbers of all incoming calls are recorded
Hey Patrick Ross: Battlestar Galactica season three premiered on Oct. 6, not Oct. 13. I think you would know that if you actually watched the show.
You know you are going to school when on the side of a bus it says, "Pregnant? We can help."
There is a girl sleeping in the basement of Fraser. Isn't that what beds are for?
Being the wealthiest nation in the world, can we not come up with original movies?
Seeing someone you know on campus is kind of like hearing Bill Clinton tell the truth: It doesn't happen very often, but when it does it is pretty exciting.
pretty good.
What is another name for a fraternity? A tool shed.
Well, you just have to go out there and give 110 percent and hope you play good and think you play good, and I think we played
For the guy that just walked by me: No, I've never had the feeling that I just need to masturbate.
I almost ran over B. Rush, I'm
Creative writing? That isn't a very practical major.
To the person with the hookah license plate: You just made my
To the guy in my discussion class that only dates Jewish girls: I am not Jewish and I am sad.
day.
The KU Parking Department is the spawn of Satan.
People at The Crossing: It is 7 p.m. on a Monday. Why are you drunk?
To the girl who sat in front of me in biology. The next time you eat chicken fingers, why don't you chew?
To the girls who thought it would be funny to prank at 3 a.m.; Get a life.
I'm in Anschutz and I think I'm sitting next to Borat.
share!
vision viewers to offensive behavior.
KANSAS BASKETBALL
the tradition continues...
DAVID PADGETT
2003-2004
J.R. GIDDENS
2003-2005
MICAH DOWNS
2005 - 2006
C.J. GILES
2004 - 2006
GR5i6
Grant Snider/KANSAN
GUEST COMMENTARY
Sporting events no longer family-friendly
Watching Friday Night Lights for probably the 100th time, I realized high school sports are probably the last pure form of athletics left in this country.
Going to big-time sporting events in the new millennium means dealing with new problems. It means paying an increasing amount of money for tickets and concessions. It means dealing with traffic to and from the venue. Worst of all, it also means being subjected to obscenities and occasional violence, mostly because of alcohol.
Professional franchises and colleges alike have attempted to regulate inappropriate fan behavior at games. Just this year, according to the Boston Globe, Boston University made it illegal for fans to curse, or make sexist or racist comments at its hockey, soccer and basketball games. If fans do so, they will be ejected from the arena. If the fans continue the behavior at future games, they will be permanently banned.
Sadly, games are no longer for families. Not only is it not feasible financially for an entire family to attend its favorite team's games, with the average ticket in the National
Football League costing nearly $60 in 2005, but it also is not smart. I do not plan to take my children to major sporting events because I can only imagine what they will repeat on the way home. The days of chanting "Go team" are gone, and the practice of yelling obscenities at the opposition is now the norm.
The University of Maryland, among other public universities, has attempted to regulate obscenities as well, but has had little success eliminating them. In 2001, Maryland students threw water bottles, batteries and other objects at fans and parents of the Duke University men's basketball team. The actions caused injuries to numerous Duke fans and resulted in formal apologies from Maryland's president and men's basketball coach.
Maryland is a school of more than 30,000 students, but the action of just a few embarrassed the alumni and the other students who did not play a part in the situation. According to Athletics Director Debbie Yow, the actions were witnessed on television, as were audible sounds of students chanting "F--- Duke." The fans at Maryland subjected innocent spectators and television viewers to offensive behavior.
The cursing and barbaric behavior now seems part of the game and is embraced by fans. The student section at Allen Fieldhouse is considered one of the loudest and most respected in the country, but the walls of the venue often reverberate with the chant of "bulls--t" after a referee's call clashes with student opinion.
With alcohol often consumed by fans before college games, and at professional events during, it is likely the largest contributing factor to violence and obscenities. Despite this, there is no way that professional stadiums are going to stop serving it. Why would they, when they can charge six, seven or eight dollars for a drink, knowing that drunken patrons will pay it? They have a financial incentive to make alcohol available for purchase.
Fights between opposing fans are commonplace at NFL games, both in the stadium and in the parking lot. When excessive amounts of alcohol are present and consumed by fan for hours at a time, before, during and after a sporting event, it is bound to cause problems.
The violence and obscenities
need to stop. Alcohol needs to be regulated inside arenas. No longer should alcohol be sold until the end of the third quarter at NFL games. Last season, according to *NFL.com*, the New York Jets did not serve alcohol during a Monday night game against the New England Patriots. This came nearly a month after a man was stabbed in a rest room and a police officer broke his leg attempting to quell a drunken fight. The ban helped make spectators safer, and those fans were likely subjected to fewer obscenities
Attending sporting events as a child gave me some of my fondest memories. However, in the past few years, it has become increasingly offensive and oftentimes disgusting to witness. Things need to change. Fans need to understand the message they are sending to children and the violence that they are causing. Until that happens, the cursing and violence will continue to be a part of the game, and high school athletics will be the only events that are pure.
Ryan Colaianni is a McLean, Va. senior in journalism and political science.
TALK TO US
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Erick R. Schmidt, managing editor
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Gabriella Souza, manager
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Frank Tankard opinion editor
864-4924 or tankard@kansas.com
Dave Rugh, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or drugh@kansan.com
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864-4014 or kboedi@kansan.com
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The Kansan welcomes letters to the editor and guest columns submitted by students, faculty and alumni. The Kansan reserves the right to edit, cut to length, or reject all submissions.
For any questions, call Frank Tankard or Dave Ruge at 864-4810 or e-mail opinion@kansan.com.
General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com.
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