To the Editor:
In an article on declining attendance at Dartmouth sporting events, Dick Jaeger posits that attendance is down because Dartmouth students have many more social options than we did three years ago [Feb. 8]. I want to suggest another reason for declining attendance: Dartmouth takes the fun out of attending a sporting event.
On Feb. 10, Dartmouth Men's Basketball has their biggest victory in recent memory. So what do we do? Why, arrest the kid hanging off the rim, of course.
On Feb. 3, the struggling Big Green Men's Hockey team, now 4-17-2, is facing ECAC perennial powerhouse Clarkson. Dartmouth roars back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game, 3-3, on Alex Dumas' rocket slapshot from the point. The crowd cheers wildly; one fans rings a cowbell. What do we do? Have a DS&S officer threaten to confiscate the cowbell, of course.
Same game. Goalie Ben Heller makes a brilliant save on a Clarkson breakaway, preserving the tie. One of his friends jumps and cheers in a frantic explosion of joy. What do we do? You guessed it. Eject him for being an unruly fan.
Maybe if the College stopped arresting, threatening and ejecting the students who were actually enjoying themselves at sporting events, more of them might attend.
Until DCAD changes, don't get too excited while attending any Big Green athletic action.. Because, these days, apparently anything more than a polite golf clap will not be tolerated.
