The recent articles, letters, and now Facebook groups regarding the "Stick It In" cheer are starting to actually make me question the intelligence of some of my fellow students.
I mean no disrespect at all, but honestly we are (or should mostly be by now) adults and able to use some reasoning skills here. I am a junior and have enjoyed "Stick It In" and all the other cheers that we have been doing since I came here in 2005, but what I don't enjoy is seeing multitudes of people (many drunk to the world) doing the hip thrusting, gyrating, etc., especially when most of them are guys surrounding me. The only time I want to see that would be at a party, dance, etc. from a woman, thank you. I can easily see how many people, be they alumni, visiting parents with children, or viewers watching on TV at home would take issue with all the sexual gestures that many of our fans make.
If you don't get what I mean, imagine that instead of being the average drunk male fan you are a parent who has to deal with one or more children. In addition to the usual needs of the toilet, the overpriced food, and the seating from which little Johnnie or Suzie cannot see and constantly complain, you have (on average) at least one obnoxiously drunk person (again, usually male here) who is doing things next to or into your kids. Personally, if I return here with my children and someone drunk or sober acts like that to my children he or she is begging for a free complimentary knuckle sandwich.
Or maybe you are someone who just comes to enjoy the game, maybe with your girlfriend/boyfriend (as many of us do) and have to deal with someone who seems to think you are perfectly fine with them grinding right up on you or your significant other? Again, I don't want someone doing that to me or mine. See the above for possible consequences.
What if you are at home watching the game with some friends and your little brother wanders in as the "Stick It In" motions are happening on TV and asks what's going on? Yes, that happened to me and I think it was one of the few times in my life I was embarrassed to be a Hokie. Finally, this is not censorship, as some people like to claim. The band is funded by the Athletic Department in its entirety, which includes uniforms, instruments, and refitting/uniform repairs, to name a few things. The Athletic Department, therefore, can tell the band what it can and cannot play. If you become so annoyed at the fact that Tech is trying to show some class and eliminate a cheer that has become tactless by the actions brought on by it, I have a final quick question for you: what is the point of being here at Tech? I welcome your answers and any other responses you may have.
Joshua Jones
Junior, History