Letter to the editor

justamom · #1 09-17-2002, 06:21 AM

The following is a letter to the editor in the Revielle-the LSU campus newspaper. On first glance, it seems really nit-picky and-well just silly! Curious how others see it.
Seems like this person is just LOOKING for something to bash Greeks about.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Empty Greek section upsets football fan

If any of you were at the game Saturday, you may have noticed how empty the Greek section was after the first half. I personally was offended when I noticed this atrocity. There are many people who have been waiting many years to see a good coach with a team that can win games. For the first time, Matt Mauck was looking really good, and as a whole, the team played very well. So, maybe you can understand why I was mad to see a big hole in the stands. These people represent our school! They are supposed to be doing their part to help the community. Well, if they want to know how to help, I will tell them. For the next home game, donate all of your tickets to underprivileged kids or a charity. Those kids would love and appreciate being there more than most of you appreciate or love anything. Now, for the few of you who do stay the whole game, come and join us in the student section. We would love to have you!

*************
Senior — finance (I especialy LOVED this sentence "Those kids would love and appreciate being there more than most of you appreciate or love anything.")

I deleted the name. http://reveille.stumedia.lsu.edu/tod...nts/index.html

AchtungBaby80 · #2 09-17-2002, 09:36 AM

Well, that's...nice.

I'm sorry s/he feels that way.

dzrose93 · #3 09-17-2002, 11:24 AM

I wasn't at the game so I can't speak for the LSU Greeks, but I personally find it really hard to believe that any students - Greeks or not - on a Southern campus would pass up the opportunity to watch their team play football. Usually, it's the students who can be counted on to sit through the entire game, regardless of inclement weather, how well their team is doing, etc.

I've been to many college football games in my day, and have yet to see large crowds of Greeks leaving early. (You can normally pick them out from the rest of the students because they're dressed up in badge attire and stand out from the jeans-wearing crowd.) So I'm having trouble picturing a mass exodus after LSU's first half.

It sounds like this kid just wants something to complain about. I suggest that he concentrate more on the game than on what people are doing in the stands.

Sidenote: Concerning the kid's snide comment about inviting the Greeks who stayed to come sit in the student section: Is the Greek section actually separated from the general student section at LSU???

I've been to a lot of different campuses for games over the years, and have never noticed the Greeks being placed in a different area than the rest of the student body. All I've seen is that they tend to sit together in groups -- but not necessarily away from other students.

violets · #4 09-17-2002, 11:37 AM

justamom,
Considering all of societies ills, this letter to the editor just seems silly.
He/She is really "reaching" to find something to complain about. But thank God we live in a place in which even this writer's petty complaints can be expressed.
violets

lifesaver · #5 09-17-2002, 12:59 PM

I'll nit-pick then:

Atrocity, from atrocious.

Main Entry: atro·cious
Pronunciation: &-'trO-sh&s
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin atroc-, atrox gloomy, atrocious, from atr-, ater black + -oc-, -ox (akin to Greek Ops eye) -- more at EYE
Date: 1669
1 : extremely wicked, brutal, or cruel : BARBARIC
2 : APPALLING, HORRIFYING <the atrocious weapons of modern war>
3 a : utterly revolting : ABOMINABLE

Lets be realisitic. I find his choice of words to be inflamatory, and it makes him look like he cant clearly state his opinion.

To me something that is barabaric is the attacks on NY, and DC. THAT is barbaric, wicked, appaling, horrifying. Not an absence at a football game.

Dionysus · #6 09-17-2002, 01:01 PM

I won't say that I haven't seen something similar before, just not to this degree. I do notice BIG segregation between Greek and Non-Greek students. I've actually seen Greeks who rather rather associate with their greek RIVAL than a non-greek.
It bothered me most when I was a social greek, I felt that I couldn't have any associations outside the greek system. Anyways it's 100% unwritten.

Greeks at my school come late and leave early at many events given at our school! The logic behind it, I don't know.

However, like you all said, I think s/he overreacted. That in NO WAY was atrocious. Maybe rude, but nothing horrifying.

aopirose · #7 09-17-2002, 01:12 PM

I was the game Saturday. (I have only missed 4 home games in the last 15 years!) Let me tell you, it wasn’t just the Greeks leaving. There were plenty of non-Greeks and non-students leaving too. As frustrating as it is, it happens. It has always been that if LSU is putting somebody away, the crowd starts to thin after half time. It’s sad. Our group is of the belief that the game ain’t over until the clock says 0:00. When the clock reaches 0:00, then and only then can you leave. As hard core as that may sound, we have friends who don’t leave the stadium until the band finishes.

Dzrose93 – The person was referring to reserved student seating but it’s still in the student section. You have to pay a premium. It is generally about $3 more per ticket then regular student tickets that are akin to general admission. Any student or student group whether it’s a fraternity, sorority, dorm buddies, law school or med school can purchase reserved seat tickets. (It’s nice to be able to go to the same seat week after week.) Fraternities are generally the largest purchasers of reserved seating. The Greeks are most noticeable because they dress up for the game. The standard attire for the gents is white shirt and ties with khakis. With several hundred clumped together, they do make their presence known. The reserved seating sections are assigned by lottery but there are certain criteria that have to be met too. The chief among them are grades. Generally, the group with the highest GPA moves the closest to the 50-yard line. Before hubby, I dated a guy whose fraternity had the highest GPA for a few years running. It was awesome to sit on the 40-yard line with chair backs! At least, that is the way it used to work.

justamom · #8 09-17-2002, 01:16 PM

lifesaver, I thought the terms used were overstated, to put it mildly, as well.

The only thing I know is that this year the Greeks did get block seating. How many tickets? No idea. Maybe if ThetaLove sees this she can respond. I just thought it was silly!

Dionysus · #9 09-17-2002, 01:23 PM

Maybe s/he didn't get a bid.

Optimist Prime · #10 09-17-2002, 01:25 PM

I want my own section.

justamom · #11 09-17-2002, 01:58 PM

aopirose! I didn't see your post-thanks for the fill in!

dekeguy · #12 09-17-2002, 02:45 PM

Agree with JustAMom. Perhaps we could hear from some LSU guys as to their take on this? I have only been to a couple of LSU games but I got the impression that Tiger fans are die-hard football fans and Tiger Greeks are right up there with the most dedicated. Also, I was under the impression that Tiger Greeks sat in the student seating block. Is that letter on the level?

dekeguy · #13 09-17-2002, 02:55 PM

AOII Rose,
Thanks for the info. I missed your comments while I was writing mine.
Is this a new trend? Leaving early when LSU is stomping someone flat I mean? My info is six or seven years old but the couple of times I was there I was very impressed by the absolute stay 'till the end loyalty of the students and fans in general.

dzrose93 · #14 09-17-2002, 03:42 PM

Aopirose,

Thanks for the info about the seating!

Lifesaver,

As usual, I agree with you 110%!

aopirose · #15 09-17-2002, 03:51 PM

Hey guys don’t get me wrong. Tiger Fans are some of the greatest in the world. I’m just saying that there is a certain segment (not particular to Greeks, students or otherwise) that does not stay until 0:00. The reasons are varied: inclement weather, the game is boring, they want to beat traffic, they want to beat the crowd to the clubs, the house has a band, etc… However, when blocks of people start leaving, it is noticeable. It begins as a trickle and then there are gaping holes by the middle of the 4th quarter. The stadium holds 91,000+ and I am in no way saying that the place becomes a ghost town.

Now if the game is good, hardly anyone leaves. A great example is when we beat Auburn with less then a minute. The crowd caused a ground tremor that registered on a seismograph across campus. Another was when we beat Florida and they were ranked #1 at the time. It was priceless to watch Steve Spurrier throw that visor on the ground.