I have visited every continental state in the union and still find West Virginia University and the state of West Virginia to be the ideal place.
When I attended WVU, the students were much rowdier and much more vocal in their opinions than today’s students.
I personally think they do not take up for their rights as much as they should.
I was so upset when I heard that the administration was prepared to remove student seating because of a few people throwing items on the floor.
From that point of view, every administrator at WVU should have been fired because the governor’s daughter received a degree she didn’t earn.
That would not be appropriate nor would reducing student seating.
University officials already reduced student seating this year. I might remind everyone at WVU, if not for the lowly student, no one else is needed. Keep that in mind at all times.
You are here to support the students – not the other way around.
I think the uproar at the Pitt game was the direct result of negative stories in The Daily Athenaeum, articles from the mayor, the University administration and ESPN’s continual attack on the student section and the WVU fans.
I have been to Duke when the students were just as vocal to the opposing team.
They meet the opponent at the bus and never let up, and no one talks about how bad Duke’s student section is.
Now, I admit, throwing items on the floor is inappropriate, but do not kill a gnat with a sledge hammer.
In football, WVU does not allow the fans on the football field after a great win, much to my disappointment.
Most schools I have seen seem to accept this as part of the student experience.
Alas, WVU does not think of the student or the paying fan, just the inconvenience made by the fan on the field. Now you want to stifle the student at basketball games. Amazing.
Stop them from throwing things, but to stop the iconic "Eat S--- Pitt" is just wrong.
To try to stop it is a losing battle. If nothing else, us old folks will keep it going.
With regards to the Louisville coach and his off-court antics: Who is more wrong – the student for mentioning it or the coach for doing it?
I do not approve of the "F" word being used in any setting, but let us remember this word is used daily in rap music.
Today’s students have grown up with it, and they sometimes think it is appropriate to use whereever they please.
If you want to stop it, stop rap music. And good luck with that one.
The administration could better manage the situation without e-mails and threats. Use common sense.
When I was at the University, we had a situation occur that illustrates what can be done and it works.
One night, a young police officer attempted to close one of the bars in Sunnyside early. The students became upset and carried the discussion outside.
At about that time, all the bars were closing, and there were thousands of students on the street.
The young police officer called for assistance, to which 5 additional cars showed up.
After about 10 minutes of tense exchange between students and police, one of the older policemen gathered all the police officers together and they got in their cars and drove off.
Within 15 minutes, the students had dispersed and gone to their dorms and houses.
If you want the student to stop doing something, stop drawing attention to it. Most people are attention seekers. No attention, no seekers.
And finally, the DA is, above all else, a student newspaper.
I have read most of the what has been published this year, and I see a trend that is pro-University, and less pro-student.
If you want the student to work with you, you have to work with them.
Not printing opposing views to the University policies is against every thing the DA stood for in my time.
If the DA looks for ways to promote the student while adhering to the rules set down by the University, then the student will respond in kind.
If you keep putting the student down, they stop listening to you and, as seen at the Pitt game, behave even more rudely. Now you have an atmosphere of us versus them.
The DA is one of the best student newspapers in the country. But, it has to support the student along with the University. Above all else, the student comes first.
As I said earlier if not for the student there is no DA, University, staff, faculty, sports teams, big salaries or Morgantown.
Preece is a WVU graduate and a resident of Hurricane, W.Va.
13 comments
Not that I agree with all of it.
Sure, there is the college experience and the 'letting loose' by the students.
However, having fun and going to far, as to what has transpired recently during WVU games is over the line.
Thanks for the article Les.