Important message to ice hockey ticket holders

[cth95]

What's the big deal about having to say "Rough 'em up?"  I have been shouting that at games for years.  I often still think "F 'em up" in my head while I am saying it.  There is no reason to say "F 'em up" other than to satisfy your own ego that you are going against the "establishment".  Hockey games are loud and energetic, but they are still family events.

I am going to be pretty pissed if the band gets shut down from playing Gary Glitter just because some fans feel they have to make a point. (and an invalid point at that)

[Tom Tone]

I don't think there's a big deal about saying rough as opposed to fuck, just the manner in which Athletics is going about it.

There was a time when the band was threatened with being kicked out of Lynah if they assisted in any cheer that involved the word 'sucks'. So no black hole or cheer.

Instead of enforcing it individually as they used to do (with specially trained ushers who could read lips), they place the burden of good behavior on the band. If athletics decides screw is all of a sudden profane or asking someone to kill someone is intimidating, will the band not be allowed to play Screw BU or Hey Bâby?

[Willy '06]

This is all that I have to add...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEhfydhSXBg&feature=related

[Jordan 04]

[quote fatchance72]The band was informed of this situation the same time everyone else was.

If athletics decides that we have to stop playing Gary Glitter, we don't really have a choice. Athletics provides us with tickets to every game (hockey, basketball, lacrosse, etc.) and allows us time to play too. The band has little to no bargaining power when it comes to something like this.

[/quote]

There's always the option of declining Athletics' invitation to play at games if you feel you're being dictated to the point of not enjoying being at the games.

[Rosey]

[quote Jordan 04]There's always the option of declining Athletics' invitation to play at games if you feel you're being dictated to the point of not enjoying being at the games.[/quote]
Unfortunately, the "Atlas Shrugged" option is unlikely to be successful in changing any AD minds: they would be perfectly happy to have Cornell play to a silent rink.

[Lauren '06]

[quote fatchance72]The band was informed of this situation the same time everyone else was.[/quote]
That is unfortunate.  For Athletics to dangle the band as leverage, to put it in Tom's words, is a pretty dick thing to do without the band's consent (or even foreknowledge).  I'd say it's a slight to the band that's worth an email of inquiry.

Nothing pisses me off like the band being punished for the actions of others, and letting Athletics make that condition without question doesn't sit right with me.

[quote fatchance72]If athletics decides that we have to stop playing Gary Glitter, we don't really have a choice. Athletics provides us with tickets to every game (hockey, basketball, lacrosse, etc.) and allows us time to play too. The band has little to no bargaining power when it comes to something like this.

The only real way to save the tradition of playing this song, is for people not to say fuck and/or athletics dropping the threat of banning it.[/quote]
I'm going to respectfully disagree on a few points here.  As I said before, the band does have a choice, though those choices come with consequences.  And the band does have bargaining power: namely, their presence.

In 2005, during my term as pepband manager, there was an incident involving one of the marching band's buses.  Among other things, the punishment was for the marching band to sit out the next roadtrip--a decision the AD immediately retracted when he realized that it would make the school look bad (or weak, or whatever) to have no band there.  I believe that game was televised, which probably helped.  This proves that the presence of the band matters to the AD, if only in an indirect way.

I should say that I think the chances of Athletics actually telling the band not to play Gary Glitter are low.  I think it's probably an empty scare tactic (see also: fish ejection policy).  However, if they do forbid Gary Glitter and the band plays it anyway, what would happen?  Would the band be ejected?  Told to sit out the next game?  How do you think that would go over?

I'm not advocating a revolution here or anything, but in general I would advise the band--in all things--to at least keep "no" open as an option.  "No" can give you power.

[Jordan 04]

[quote Kyle Rose][quote Jordan 04]There's always the option of declining Athletics' invitation to play at games if you feel you're being dictated to the point of not enjoying being at the games.[/quote]
Unfortunately, the "Atlas Shrugged" option is unlikely to be successful in changing any AD minds: they would be perfectly happy to have Cornell play to a silent rink.[/quote]

That's the obvious consequence that the band would have to decide if they are ok suffering.

Would the AD also like Cornell to not have band support at an NCAA hockey regional?

How about being the only team in the field of 65 (knock on wood) to not have a band on the baseline?

Perhaps the answer to both of those is yes as well. But there is leverage in forcing them to cut their nose to spite their face.

[upperdeck]

[quote Beeeej]Presumably, parents don't bring their children to movies that contain foul language if they don't want their children to hear it.  Similarly, vice presidents in Day Hall don't normally have children in their offices when they curse out a computer.  A hockey game is still a family event.

I use profanity all the time, I just don't do it in hockey games.  And I think that the inability to enjoy a hockey game - to chant, sing, or shout in support of your team - without using profanity is a pretty sad failure of imagination.  In any event, you've been warned, so it's not like you can say you didn't know.

That having been said, I do think that Coach Schafer should be held to the same standard, and I hear him curse loudly from the bench on a regular basis.  He should be the example, not the exception.[/quote]

yeah.. I sure see a lot of kids not showing up at Pg and pg13 movies..  they go knowing their is a chance of swearing and if they dont want the kids to hear any they dont come.. but they dont know going in how much there will be.   how is this different than the hockey game?  hey i dont swear so it isnt a ban than effects me.. but there is no ban on swearing on the campus so why is there at Lynah? its not like the kids and the townies swear all game long.. is a single cheer than for the most part you cant tell all the words really a big issue..

[Willy '06]

Ok, I have another thing to add.

When you take your kid to a hockey game, there's a decent chance that he or she is going to see two large men punching each other in the face. There's even the possibility of some blood and someone's teeth getting knocked out. To some people this is offensive.

Knowing what I know about the Ithaca townie population (and all of the peace/anti-war signs), I would imagine that most Ithaca parents would be more upset to have their children see a fight than hear an unintelligible swear word come from the other side of the rink.

[fatchance72]

I would guess that every member of the band would still want to play at the games even if we weren't allowed to play Gary Glitter. Let's be serious, this is a song. Band members aren't gonna give up their tickets to hockey games over a song. I certainly won't.

But you're missing the point, cth95. My point was that athletics holds significant power over the band, whether we care to admit it or not. In this situation, athletics is choosing to use the band as a tool to help cut down on profanity at Lynah. What athletics doesn't realize is that the majority of the potty-mouthed students at the games are going to curse regardless of whether the band plays Gary Glitter.

But I agree with Lauren. It is unlikely that athletics will ask the band to stop playing the song.

[Lauren '06]

[quote fatchance72]athletics is choosing to use the band as a tool[/quote]
...and really, this is the part I object to.  Whether Gary Glitter is important or not is immaterial compared to this.

[hockeychick470]

One thing that really concerns me about this situation is that I've witnessed rink guards on the D/E boarder routinely throw fans who said "rough" claiming they were using the "inappropriate" version... If they're going to assume that we're cursing just from opening our mouths, all they're going to accomplish is a deterioration in cheering overall and serious negative effect on the atmosphere in Lynah.

[KeithK]

[quote Willy '06]When you take your kid to a hockey game, there's a decent chance that he or she is going to see two large men punching each other in the face. There's even the possibility of some blood and someone's teeth getting knocked out. To some people this is offensive.[/quote]
That's actually pretty uncommon at college hockey games. I can't remember the last time players dropped the gloves at Lynah.

[Jim Hyla]

I can't believe we are going over this again. What, does it happen every year? Background, when Coach Schafer came he instituted the policy about language at Lynah. Maybe that had something to do with his kids being there, maybe it was, in some small way, a way to atone for his sins? I don't know, but I do completely agree with the policy. Lynah is a great place to take your kids and show some of the fun that can occur at college. I have brought many of my daughter's friends and they have all uniformly enjoyed the experience. Now there are some rinks where I would not be as sure about whether their parents would want me to take them.::cuss::

The fact is that the school, including the hockey administration,  doesn't want this to happen. It's not necessary to enjoy the game, nor to intimidate the visitors; so why does it have to happen? You have a lot of other ways to show your support.::woot::

Now in regards to the way the AD said this, well it's another in a list of insensitive moves. One thinks they, and it's not just Andy Noel, could hire a more sensitive individual, and run these things by them first. Hell (oops) there are probably some who would do it for free. Not that I think it will happen, but I can dream.::idea::

However, the bottom line is: you don't need to do this to have a good time. Let's forget about it and get back to supporting the team and enjoying ourselves, and letting others enjoy it, while we do it.:-P

[Willy '06]

They were good for a couple fights a season in my days at Lynah 2002-2006. Not many of them escalated too far, but my two strongest memories did. They were Hornby beating the snot out of a guy on UVM and the Nickerson-Varteressian fight in the 2004 playoffs. Neither of those were kid friendly.