Tech students greet Silent Treatment proposal with deafening uproar (Stay classy, TT yoots)
The Texas Tech student body has been in a state of outrage and rebellion this week. I won’t say “state of revolt” since most of them are always revolting.
And what are they protesting? Chancellor Kent Hance’s “growth at any cost” policies? His known associations with anti-science tea-baggers even as he strives for “tier one” research status? The critical lack of classroom space? The appalling traffic conditions near the campus?
No, none of these.
The future leaders of Texas here at Tea-Party Tech are in an angry lather because of a suggestion from the administration that they not boo, jeer, and scream obscentities during the playing of the UT school song at this week’s game.
Mum’s the word, but Red Raider Nation is raising a ruckus.
Texas Tech’s student leaders are taking a tongue-lashing from outraged students for suggesting fans at today’s home football game against the University of Texas fall silent when the UT band plays its school song as the Longhorns take the field.
Tech’s Student Government Association announced the plan as an intimidation tactic, dubbed the “Silent Treatment,” after university administrators called on the group last week to help remedy an underlying culture of poor sportsmanship at home football games.
Tech Chancellor Kent Hance hastily called a meeting with more than a hundred upperclassmen and student organization officials on Sept. 9 and asked them to help quash certain unflattering behaviors he saw the previous weekend at Tech’s season opener against Southern Methodist University.
He expressed particular concerned about students — and some fans — chanting “Raider Power” to drown out SMU’s marching band when it played the Dallas school’s song. Hance also hopes to nix a long-standing tradition in the student section that replaces several words in Tech’s fight song with profanities.
Drew Graham, Tech’s SGA president, responded this week by rolling out the Silent Treatment, which he hoped would result in an eerie hush at Jones AT&T Stadium that could disconcert opponents.
His plan immediately backfired, largely, he said, because of a misunderstanding stemming from his being misquoted by a local television station.
And thus many fans believe the SGA was asking them to remain silent every time the Longhorns have the ball, essentially neutralizing Tech’s home-field advantage at Jones AT&T Stadium — widely regarded as one of the most hostile venues in the nation for visiting teams.
“It’s only meant during the school song, instead of the booing we do now,” Graham said, noting that many opponents’ school songs are played prior to the game’s start. “That’s the only time we ever expected or wanted it.”
Misunderstanding or not, fans have lashed out at Graham’s office and bombarded him with e-mails.
“If these accusations are true, and you are trying to change the culture of the Jones Stadium, I hope your time at Tech is coming to an end,” wrote one man who identified himself as a 2008 graduate of Tech. “You are not the first and you won’t be the last person, that tries to shame Tech fans into being ‘civil.’ ”
The alumnus then goes on to tell Graham he hopes “UT fans in (Lubbock) this weekend get beat up, spit on, slapped, kicked, punched and called dirty names, because that’s what happens to Tech fans when we go other places.”
(emphasis added)To Graham, the man’s letter puts into sharp focus the need for a culture shift among Tech’s fan base.
“I’m just sad that’s what a sporting event turns into,” he said. “It’s supposed to be a fun event to go out and support your school. I don’t think it should turn into something where people get into fights about sports.”
Tempers flared across the blogosphere, too, as media outlets both in Lubbock and Austin picked up on the story.
The backlash prompted the SGA’s student senate to table the proposal until after this weekend’s conference opener.
Though broad student support seems just as unlikely in coming weeks.
Even those who understood the Silent Treatment’s pre-game focus remained skeptical Friday.
“I think that’s a little unrealistic,” said Ryan Hildebrand, a sophomore from Dallas. “Plus, the culture of Texas Tech fans is not one of silence.”
Sophomore Colby McDaniel understands how the Silent Treatment, if implemented correctly, could unnerve visiting teams and fans, but he doubted it would be possible to get both fans and students on board.
“Some would be cheering and some would be silent,” the Wolfforth native said, “so it would just sound goofy.”
Hance said Friday he had not been asked about the Silent Treatment before it was sent out to students.
Although Hance agreed fans should refrain from erupting in noise during the other team’s school song, he disagreed about employing the Silent Treatment when the other team takes the field.
“I want our fans to be so loud you can’t hear yourself think,” he said.
Student senators plan to revisit the issue next week, Graham said.
“Whatever will be, will be,” he said. “We’ll adjust and see if it’s anything students would be interested in. If not, then we’ll drop the issue.”
Yeah, it’s certainly a waste of time to try shame these little douchebags into civility, everyone knows they have no shame. On the other hand, the widespread perception among would-be employers that TTU grads have the manners and ethics (and sometimes the hygiene) of a troop of baboons might be effective. In fact, Tech’s reputation for mass douchebaggery is really starting to affect the bottom line or Hance would not have felt the need to intervene.