Last weekend, I was fortunate enough to have a ticket for the MSU-Notre Dame football game. Herb Haygood running into the end zone to give MSU the victory and the boisterous celebration in the stands that followed will be lasting memories that no Spartan fan will soon forget.

However, the constant disrespect that poured down from the MSU student section will unfortunately be etched in the fans’ minds as well.

I have attended numerous college football games, including five MSU home games last year, countless games as an undergraduate at Syracuse University, a Fiesta Bowl and an Orange Bowl. Never before have I seen a student section act like the MSU students did last weekend.

While I left the stadium jubilant over an exciting victory, there was a bad aftertaste left as a result of the actions of the student section. From the moment the Notre Dame players walked onto the field before the game, until the final buzzer sounded, constant chants of “F--- the Irish” came ringing out from the MSU students.

When a bad call went against MSU, the chant began. When Notre Dame scored a touchdown, the students chanted. When the Notre Dame band performed, that familiar chant rang out. This disgraceful display is a low point for the MSU student body. Perhaps the most embarrassing and despicable scene occurred when the public announcer introduced the former president of Notre Dame. The students chanted, and many raised their middle finger at this honorable man.

I was ashamed to be seated in the student section, and simply sat down with my head in my hands. While some may say this is just “students being students,” we must remember that the actions of the student body reflect the entire MSU community.

We are all mature adults, and know right from wrong. The students chanting these words and displaying the middle finger represent all students, alumni, faculty members and everyone associated with MSU. This is not the image of our university we want to portray to our visitors, especially with national media in attendance.

I also have attended numerous high-intensity MSU basketball and hockey games, and never heard such a chant at any of those events. In fact, the chants that come from the “Slapshots” section at hockey games are always humorous, never offensive, and usually receive a loud chuckle from the arena. The “Izzone” injects a tremendous amount of energy into every Spartan basketball game, and they never resort to comments such as those uttered last weekend at Spartan Stadium.

Do not be fooled into believing that this chant could not be heard around the stadium. I spoke to a friend who was seated on the opposite sideline, and he could hear it loud and clear. It must have been difficult for parents to answer their children when the youngsters undoubtedly asked them, “What are they chanting?”

Acting in such a disgraceful manner is not the “Spartan spirit” that makes all MSU athletic events enjoyable to attend. In such an emotionally charged atmosphere, we must remember to cheer for the Spartans, not against the opponent. Cheers such as “Go green, go white,” “Let’s go State,” and “Let’s go Spartans,” do a great job at charging up the fans and players.

The atmosphere that is created when the band enters and begins to play is amazing. When 72,000 Spartan fans pump their fists and chant “Let’s go State,” it gives me chills. The roar that erupts when the chariot circles the field is electric - this is the essence of the Spartan spirit.

The disgraceful cheering that occurred Saturday does nothing but embarrass the entire university, and make schools like Notre Dame not want to return to East Lansing. It would be a tragedy if the MSU-Notre Dame rivalry was canceled because the Irish players, administration and fans did not want to be subjected to the crude and disrespectful chants of the MSU students. Especially in the wake of the Munn field and March 27-28, 1999 riots, students must remember they are under a constant microscope.

The peaceful celebration of the MSU men’s basketball championship did a great deal to prove to the community that the other two incidents were not indicative of how students behave.

However, offensive chanting and finger raising does nothing but tarnish the image so many students have worked so hard to rebuild.

Saturday is another big game for the undefeated Spartans, as Northwestern comes to town. As you sit in the stands and cheer, let’s remember to keep the cheers loud, but always positive. If we can match the positive cheering that was displayed on the winning play for the whole game against Northwestern, then everybody in attendance will leave the game happy for two reasons: The students will have shown just how outstanding we can be, and the Spartans will remain undefeated as they triumph over Northwestern.

Michael Alper, a State News guest columnist, can be reached at alpermic@msu.edu.