2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Opinion
Editorial | Hey Penn, you suck
By trying to stop a harmless chant, Penn is making a mountain out of a molehill
Opinion Board
There's a fine line between sportsmanship and oversensitivity.
It's called common sense.
Unfortunately, the Athletic department crossed that line when it decided to stop The Penn Band from playing the popular "Hey Song."
Officially titled "Rock and Roll Part 2," the song is a mainstay at Penn men's basketball games.
Late in the game, when it seems that the Quakers will win, the Band plays the song and fans replace the traditional "Hey!" refrain with "Hey, you suck!"
Athletic administrators argue that the song has elicited many complaints from alumni who bring younger children to the games.
While the phrase isn't the classiest of retorts, "you suck" ranks fairly low on the obscenity scale.
It's perfectly fine, of course, for school officials to insist on a certain level of conduct at games. Students shouting profanities or racist comments would certainly merit swift intervention by the Athletic department.
But the chant in question doesn't include any personal attacks or highly offensive phrases. It doesn't even single out any of the opposing players.
Instead, it fires up the fans, engages the crowd and captures the competitive spirit of the game.
So let the fans chant. And let the Band play on.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 11
QAndy
posted 2/21/08 @ 7:41 AM EST
The way it's going this year, change "suck" to "won" in the chant, and everything's OK.
Go Penn
posted 2/21/08 @ 8:59 AM EST
The Hey Song is great because of the energy it creates for the fans. But why does saying "you suck" need to be a part of that at all? I mean seriously, if everyone switched over to "Go Penn", we still get R&R Part II, sound like classier fans, and its not offensive to anyone. (Continued…)
You Swill
posted 2/21/08 @ 9:42 AM EST
Penn spectators--the vocal ones--are an embarrassment. It's bad enough that they have no understanding of sports, so that when they do call out something it underscores what morons we are. (Continued…)
Zach
posted 2/21/08 @ 9:55 AM EST
Best headline ever for an editorial
John Fitzgerald
posted 2/21/08 @ 10:15 AM EST
What ever happened to good sportmanship? Taunting the opposition, whether it is an individual or the entire team, is never acceptable.
Class of 1988
posted 2/21/08 @ 10:31 AM EST
When I was at Penn, and we sang "Hang Jeff Davis" at football games, we always substituted "F--- You!" for "Giddyup". Most students, including myself, thought it was funny and thought the alumni who complained were just a bunch of stuffed shirts. (Continued…)
WHAT ABOUT JUICYCAMPUS.COM ???
posted 2/21/08 @ 10:45 AM EST
How can they ban a silly song as long as access to "juicycampus.com" is available. I am digusted and ashamed by the Penn community's participation in that stupid website, and it's FAR more hurtful and demeaning than saying "you suck" at a basketball game. (Continued…)
Sport Fan
posted 2/21/08 @ 2:02 PM EST
Chanting 'you suck' to student athletes, while being a fan, is just plain stupid. After all, I don't any fans suiting up, working hard, and contributing to the effort. (Continued…)
Alum
posted 2/21/08 @ 3:28 PM EST
The fact that the chant is dumb has absolutely nothing to do with whether students should be allowed to continue with it.
All of these comments focusing on the chant itself and not the issue at hand (censoring students) is a little embarrassing. (Continued…)
Class of 1982
posted 2/21/08 @ 5:33 PM EST
Yes, "you suck" is on the low end of humor.. I much prefer "LEFT, RIGHT,...." and its new addition of "hug, hug, hug" and "Standing..standing" that was voiced last week against Yale. (Continued…)
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