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In the past five years, I have spent a fair amount of time shivering in the freezing cold on the sidelines of Foster Field. I have endured enough baseball games in the pouring rain to last a lifetime and I was here during the basketball games at Cunningham, Lake Taylor and the Batten Center. After watching that many games, singing that many national anthems, and cheering so loud I lost my voice, I must say that this year has been more chock-full-o fan support than ever.
Picture it: Billy Greer pacing up and down the sidelines, Dean Buckingham fully clad in pea coat clapping at the refs and Coach Renn cheering on the players; all amid under the gleaming stadium lights. This is only a minute illustration of what Wesleyan stands for: pride and spirit. Some people might not refer to what the games have been like this year as having good “fan support,” though. Some of what we students may consider “support” is not always what the school deems worthy of good sportsmanship, on or off the field. In fact, before every game someone from the press box reads aloud a passage for which our athletic program stands, and it reads as follows:
“The NCAA and the ODAC promotes good sportsmanship by student-athletes, coaches, and spectators. We request your cooperation by supporting the participants and officials in a positive manner. Profanity, racial, sexist or actions directed at officials, student-athletes, coaches or team representatives will not be tolerated and are grounds for removal from the site of competition. Thank you for your cooperation.”
I wish, at this time, that I could take a poll estimating how many students and student athletes either hear this Code of Conduct read at the beginning of the game or read it in the program. As far as I know, the only time anyone reads a program is to search for the goofiest name on the opposing team’s roster in order to make fun of that player for the duration of the game. This Code of Conduct is read for a reason, even though we sometimes forget why we, as fans, are still held responsible for them. Usually the speech goes in one ear and out the other. It’s tough to keep in mind that it might distract a player when we scream, “Number 55, I slept with your sister last night!” Or when he or she is hailed, “Hey scumbag, the ‘80’s’ called and they want their mullet back!”
It’s also tough for student athletes to be reprimanded for what has been registered in our minds as “supportive slandering” because, on away trips, the opposing teams do the exact same thing. (Note: I can vouch for this as I have traveled to several different schools as a Marlin groupie. The other schools are just as, if not more, rowdy and rude). So I see this battle between the faculty and staff and the students as pretty much moot. The students know better than to scream curse words onto the field or, for that matter, at security guards or coaches. Not all of us were raised in barns. But, as friends and fans of the players, our enthusiasm for Wesleyan athletics and our passion for being caught up in the moment of merriment can sometimes suggest a tinge of obnoxiousness. It’s also an exacting request that we conduct ourselves as adults and behave appropriately when the opposing team brings along their own deafening spirit squad. It’s when opposing team fans begin to stoke their support for their team that we MUST alert them of the driving directions back to their school.
Once that happens, it’s all downhill, because we are probably winning. Senior Katie Bozza, former women’s lacrosse and field hockey player, comments, “The cheering and fan support has definitely grown to be a big part of sporting events here on the Wesleyan campus.” She adds, “It’s so great, as a former player, to see such great turnouts at the games.” Bozza attends as many Wesleyan sporting events as possible and admits that, when on the field, it’s very encouraging to hear the people in the stands.
Women’s soccer senior Katie Barg also feels that the fans around Wesleyan add to the excitement of the game. “I love it,” she says. “It’s hard for me to pay attention to it when I’m playing, but when I’m watching games I think it’s great. People have to remember that at other schools they do the same thing to us, as the opposing team.”
So, bottom line: students agree that the way games are running now are fun and exciting but hopefully realize that, with all the scolding that has been happening to “out-of-line” fans, we must be supportive in a positive way. The best advice I can offer right now is to watch what you say when cheering for the chosen goofball on the other team or something worse than pouring your drink out is going to happen.
When I was little, I used to love to play games. I loved board games, hide and seek, and freeze tag. My friends and I would spend all of our time playing these games, and the rest of our time making some up. Now that I’m all grown up I still find myself playing games. These games are just a little bit different and I have decided that I am really sick of playing them. I am not a child anymore and I have definitely grown out of it.
As most of you have probably guessed by now, I am not talking about Monopoly. I am talking about the games that are played between men and women. We started playing games with guys right around the time we hit puberty and most of us haven’t stopped. My roommate, who is a guy, thinks its funny to call me a player. He thinks I’m a man-hater who is incapable of love. This was probably true about a week ago. If I meet a guy who is really nice and treats me with respect, I freak out and run for the hills. But, if I meet a guy who never calls when he’s supposed to, ignores me in public and is an all- around loser, I’m totally in love. This is a vicious cycle that I like to blame on my last boyfriend who caused me to have a fear of relationships for the past two years. However, I have very recently decided I’m sick of it.
Maybe it’s the holiday season or maybe I’m growing up. Either way, “I don’t wanna be a playa no more” (love that song). I don’t mean to say that I am looking for a boyfriend. I mean that I’m not trying to play games anymore. I’ve been kind of seeing this one guy for a couple of weeks, if that’s what you can call it. I’m sure all of us have been in this situation on more than one occasion. As usual, he treats me like I don’t exist and I am totally falling for it. I spend my time trying to think of ways to get him to be more interested. My friends and I like to call this “playing the game.”
For instance, this is how we typically “play the game.” Girl meets boy, boy gets number, girl and guy “hang out” or whatever you like to call it, boy says he will call, girl refuses to call him first, boy never calls, girl is left confused. Well, I am sick of being confused. I am sick of “playing the game.” Game over. So thanks to the advice of a friend who is not into games at all, I did the unthinkable. I called. I called after he hadn’t called me in a week. I called even after he ignored me in public. On any normal day, that would be preposterous. I know all you girls out there are wondering what came over me. Well, I’ll tell you.
My friend said to me, why not? My natural response to this was “what do you mean why not? He’s going to think I’m pathetic if I call him after being ignored and maybe even a bit stalker-like. He obviously has no interest in me and he’s made it blatantly obvious. Why should I call?” Then she made a good point. She said if I didn’t call, I would always wonder why and what do I care what he thinks anyway. She also pointed out that he might have a perfectly good explanation.
So feeling brave, I did it. His excuse was lame, but at least he answered the phone. And believe it or not, I actually do feel better. I don’t think there is any chance for us in the future, but I know that when I see him out that I won’t have a problem going up to him and saying hi. I am sick of awkward situations and because I quit “playing games,” I have avoided another one. So from now on, I’m not going to spend my time trying to figure out what someone else is thinking. I’m just going to ask. I’m not going to sit around with my friends and think of ways to be fake. Being real is much better. No more trying to avoid people in public places, who can ignore whom the most, and no more trying to make him jealous by talking to other guys. I know most of you will probably continue to be players and that’s fine. But I have found life is lot simpler without them. I think my new attitude will greatly decrease the drama in my life, not to mention the number of men that I have to hide from when I go out.
I must say the article entitled “Scaling the rock wall” in the recent
edition of the Chronicle is neither accurate nor researched thoroughly. The
quote from me was misused where I say, “we get less than 10 climbers a
day.” I’m not even sure when I said this, but when I say 10 climbers
a day, THAT IS A GOOD NUMBER! Many colleges and universities that are much larger
than Virginia Wesleyan don’t get that kind of participation. And I’m
sure any group on campus would be happy to report participation numbers of 10
per day. The climbing wall is used for every major campus event, including VWC
days, Homecoming, Family Weekend, Summer Orientation, and others. And at these
events we are very busy, sometimes with a line waiting for a chance to climb.
The climbing wall is rented to off-campus groups at a modest rate that helps
attract potential students. And the climbing wall has been used for academic
classes and teambuilding for athletic teams and the theater. Is it used often?
WELL YES it is. I find it unfortunate that I was not interviewed formerly or
asked questions that help to shape this article. It appears rather that the
writer had an opinion formed before putting words on paper and asked questions
that only supported his/her stance. I would appreciate a retraction and a more
accurate account of this wonderful addition to not only the Batten Center but
to the entire campus community.
-Cindy Smith
Director of
Campus Recreation
The Marlin Chronicle stands by its story.
-Ed.
The player in the volleyball picture on page 14 was inaccurately identified in the last issue of the Marlin Chronicle. The player featured is Kelli Schlaak.
Tim McDermott did not graduate from Brown Medical School. He worked there but received his BA from Virginia Tech and has an MPA from VCU.
Site created and maintained by Linda De Rosa.