“One, two, three, first down, b- – - -!”
Does this sound like an educated statement to you? It sounds absolutely ignorant to me. There are so many things wrong with using this language in the student section as well as using it at all. As far as the student section goes, we are sending out the message that we are classless, uneducated and have poor taste. It is a shame because in my experience I have found just the opposite to be true. There are many smart and respectful people on this campus. MSU is one of the leading institutions of higher education in the country. But when we come together collectively to represent MSU and say things like “b- – - -” we give off the impression we haven’t been to class since middle school.
Next comes my second issue: the use of “b- – - -.” As a female, there is no other word I could be called that would have the same effect as that one. Nothing cuts a woman worse than the big B-word. There is no counter word to call a male that has as much connotation or is as stigmatized in our society. “B- – - -” is demeaning and demoralizing. A man uses it toward another male when he wants to undermine his masculinity and signify he is weak. Therefore, being compared to a woman makes a man weak. This angers me more than anything.
The student section needs to clean up the language. I’m not trying to be uptight or a hypocrite. I am guilty of using profanity in my life. I don’t condone it and now I will think twice before I make myself sound classless and just plain dumb. Plus I’m not going to degrade my gender in the process.
I am in full support of Spartan athletics and cheering every play of the game. I propose new cheers be put into effect, sans the vulgarity. Maybe we could even throw some big words in there to throw the opponents off. I would rather sound pretentious than ignorant any day.
Katie Kelly
journalism senior
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