Comments on: Wear Blue and Voice Your Opinion on the Sign Ban http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/ Your Voice is Our Vision Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:36:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Joey http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Joey Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:32:00 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-33 Great link David, I enjoyed reading that. Intelligent responses to this issue seem few and far between. Rick Reilly does tend to say only what is convenient for his viewpoint, but hey, what sportswriter doesn't. I must admit though that Rick's books are hysterical. Great link David, I enjoyed reading that. Intelligent responses to this issue seem few and far between. Rick Reilly does tend to say only what is convenient for his viewpoint, but hey, what sportswriter doesn’t. I must admit though that Rick’s books are hysterical.

]]> By: Joey http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Joey Thu, 02 Oct 2008 17:39:45 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-36 Sean, Last time I checked, the football team was part of the student body. The only difference is, their actions, and consequently the actions of all those in attendance at Scott Stadium, are placed in a national spotlight. I agree that scoring a touchdown is not a value. However, everything represented in that touchdown: the hard work of the players, the dedication of the coaching staff, and the fans cheering on our fellow students, are values. Stand up for what you believe in and voice your dissent all you want, but don't let it detract from the hard work of the team, no matter how poor their record may be. Sean,

Last time I checked, the football team was part of the student body. The only difference is, their actions, and consequently the actions of all those in attendance at Scott Stadium, are placed in a national spotlight.

I agree that scoring a touchdown is not a value. However, everything represented in that touchdown: the hard work of the players, the dedication of the coaching staff, and the fans cheering on our fellow students, are values. Stand up for what you believe in and voice your dissent all you want, but don't let it detract from the hard work of the team, no matter how poor their record may be.

]]> By: Dulesy http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Dulesy Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:26:45 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-35 Craig Littlepage Repeals Ban On Signs At Virginia Athletics Venues CHARLOTTESVILLE -- University of Virginia Athletics Director Craig Littlepage announced Thursday that he is repealing the policy prohibiting signs, banners and flags in all UVa athletics venues. “The policy prohibiting signs, banners and flags in all UVa athletics venues has become a distraction and has taken the focus away from supporting our student-athletes,” Littlepage said. “Our football team needs our support right now and that should be our collective focus. With that in mind, I am repealing immediately the policy prohibiting signs, banners and flags in all athletics venues. I encourage all of our fans to be in attendance at Saturday night’s football game with Maryland. My hope is our fans will wear orange and be prepared to support the Cavaliers.” Craig Littlepage Repeals Ban On Signs At Virginia Athletics Venues

CHARLOTTESVILLE — University of Virginia Athletics Director Craig

Littlepage announced Thursday that he is repealing the policy

prohibiting signs, banners and flags in all UVa athletics venues.

“The policy prohibiting signs, banners and flags in all UVa athletics

venues has become a distraction and has taken the focus away from

supporting our student-athletes,” Littlepage said. “Our football team

needs our support right now and that should be our collective focus.

With that in mind, I am repealing immediately the policy prohibiting

signs, banners and flags in all athletics venues. I encourage all of

our fans to be in attendance at Saturday night’s football game with

Maryland. My hope is our fans will wear orange and be prepared to

support the Cavaliers.”

]]> By: Sean http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Sean Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:59:25 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-34 "You’re going to let your team, who represents all the values we cherish and protect at this school down" If you want to go to the game, wear orange, lead cheers, whatever, that's fine. More power to you. But I disagree with your assessment of what the football team represents. I enjoy going to games, and wish the team success, but that's about as far as it goes. In terms of the values we cherish and protect, I'm far more interest in the actions of the student body. Standing up for what you believe in and voicing dissent are values. Touchdowns are not. "You’re going to let your team, who represents all the values we cherish and protect at this school down"

If you want to go to the game, wear orange, lead cheers, whatever, that's fine. More power to you. But I disagree with your assessment of what the football team represents. I enjoy going to games, and wish the team success, but that's about as far as it goes. In terms of the values we cherish and protect, I'm far more interest in the actions of the student body. Standing up for what you believe in and voicing dissent are values. Touchdowns are not.

]]> By: David http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-32 David Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:21:53 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-32 This entire "outrage" comes across as a child who never cared to play with a toy until it was taken away. Be honest with yourself, and think of the last time you brought a sign to a football game. This is not a matter of free speech. If anything the decision was made to limit legal issues. I suggest you all read this post on the DearOldUVa blog before acting indignant any longer. The author actually looks at this situation with a reasonable eye. <a href="http://www.dearolduva.com/general/sign-fiasco-take-two/" rel="nofollow">http://www.dearolduva.com/general/sign-fiasco-tak...</a> The response to this policy is puerile. This entire "outrage" comes across as a child who never cared to play with a toy until it was taken away. Be honest with yourself, and think of the last time you brought a sign to a football game.

This is not a matter of free speech. If anything the decision was made to limit legal issues.

I suggest you all read this post on the DearOldUVa blog before acting indignant any longer. The author actually looks at this situation with a reasonable eye.

http://www.dearolduva.com/general/sign-fiasco-tak...

The response to this policy is puerile.

]]> By: Joey http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Joey Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:03:01 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-31 Don't go to the game? *pounds head into wall repeatedly* As if our team wasn't struggling enough as it is, we should just give our guys a few more kicks in the ribs while they're down? That's wonderful logic, thanks for blessing us with your stunning intellect. You're going to let your team, who represents all the values we cherish and protect at this school, down just because you want to stick it to the man? Grow up people, it's not always just about you. For all the intelligent people that are supposed to be at this school, this is the best we could come up with? Here's an idea: since we can't have signs (which are rarely that creative anyway), let's stop pouting like toddlers and arrange some student section cheers? HOOCREW, I'M TALKING TO YOU!! Instead of allowing this protest, which will only take away from gameday spirit, to pass, get together and come up with some witty cheers for the bleachers. Is this really that hard to figure out? Don't go to the game? *pounds head into wall repeatedly* As if our team wasn't struggling enough as it is, we should just give our guys a few more kicks in the ribs while they're down? That's wonderful logic, thanks for blessing us with your stunning intellect. You're going to let your team, who represents all the values we cherish and protect at this school, down just because you want to stick it to the man? Grow up people, it's not always just about you.

For all the intelligent people that are supposed to be at this school, this is the best we could come up with? Here's an idea: since we can't have signs (which are rarely that creative anyway), let's stop pouting like toddlers and arrange some student section cheers?

HOOCREW, I'M TALKING TO YOU!! Instead of allowing this protest, which will only take away from gameday spirit, to pass, get together and come up with some witty cheers for the bleachers. Is this really that hard to figure out?

]]> By: BrianB http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-30 BrianB Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:11:04 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-30 "A positive gameday experience" for who, the opposing team. Its insane how we roll out the red carpet for the visiting team so that they will not feel like that they are the visiting team. The University or Athletic Department or whoever you want to blame has taken away Home field advantage from the Home team, Our Virgiia Caveliers! Its about having an advantage when the teams at home, not making it a neutral site. Bring back the signs, brick back the roar (win or loose) and when the crowd is into it the flow will run right through the players veins and them too will be pumped! "A positive gameday experience" for who, the opposing team. Its insane how we roll out the red carpet for the visiting team so that they will not feel like that they are the visiting team. The University or Athletic Department or whoever you want to blame has taken away Home field advantage from the Home team, Our Virgiia Caveliers! Its about having an advantage when the teams at home, not making it a neutral site. Bring back the signs, brick back the roar (win or loose) and when the crowd is into it the flow will run right through the players veins and them too will be pumped!

]]> By: Jamie http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Jamie Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:09:39 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-29 I agree with many of the above posts. If this protest is to be effective, we cannot limit it to two games. Perhaps the next game we can wear the brown paper bags, and after that bring signs that directly protest the ban. The more media attention this gets, the better. Until we do something that actually makes the administration feel uncomfortable, or even embarrassed for being so hard-handed, there will be no change. So what if students are unhappy? Obviously that is not a concern of the AD. I agree with many of the above posts. If this protest is to be effective, we cannot limit it to two games. Perhaps the next game we can wear the brown paper bags, and after that bring signs that directly protest the ban. The more media attention this gets, the better. Until we do something that actually makes the administration feel uncomfortable, or even embarrassed for being so hard-handed, there will be no change. So what if students are unhappy? Obviously that is not a concern of the AD.

]]> By: Sean http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Sean Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:25:54 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-28 Witty or clever symbolic protests, such as holding blank pieces of paper or wearing a different colored shirt, play right into the hands of the athletic department. It makes it appear that this is just a game and all part of the regular back-and-forth between a rowdy but well-intentioned student body and a paternalistic but well-intentioned administration. I know fewer people would go for it, but I think it would be far more effective to work for a boycott of the games, or to have as many people as possible practice civil disobedience--bring signs that directly protest the ban and make the athletic department enforce their rule by removing hundreds of students. Or, if we must be clever, at least encourage people to come wearing gags over their mouths--something that might actually embarrass the athletic department Witty or clever symbolic protests, such as holding blank pieces of paper or wearing a different colored shirt, play right into the hands of the athletic department. It makes it appear that this is just a game and all part of the regular back-and-forth between a rowdy but well-intentioned student body and a paternalistic but well-intentioned administration. I know fewer people would go for it, but I think it would be far more effective to work for a boycott of the games, or to have as many people as possible practice civil disobedience–bring signs that directly protest the ban and make the athletic department enforce their rule by removing hundreds of students. Or, if we must be clever, at least encourage people to come wearing gags over their mouths–something that might actually embarrass the athletic department

]]> By: Dulesy http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/2008/10/wear-blue-and-voice-your-opinion-on-the-sign-ban/comment-page-1/#comment-27 Dulesy Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:45:19 +0000 http://www.uvastudentcouncil.com/?p=247#comment-27 Brian, Some would argue that what's not "great" about the photo is that it makes our stadium indistinguishable from so many others around the country. What's intimidating about Clemson or VPI coming to town and seeing the same crowd they do at their home venues? Perhaps if we all hadn't "blindly followed" the marketing campaigns for orange in the first place, the athletic department wouldn't have felt it had the authority to try to take over another part of the gameday atmosphere (signs). I don't think the protest is a backdoor shot at the "Sea of Orange," I think it's an open, direct slap in its face. In addressing the protest, sports column today in the Cav Daily provides what is to me one of the best pieces of writing the paper has seen in years: "The idea to wear blue instead of orange is simple and expressive. With enough participation, the student body will be able to show that policies and dress codes don’t create a positive game-day atmosphere — the fans themselves do. They will be able to show that an out-of-touch former NFL coach doesn’t have the power to unilaterally change the traditions that surround Virginia football. Only the fans themselves do. And they will be able to tell athletic director Craig Littlepage that the students don’t want to buy into manufactured ploys like the “Sea of Orange” and a sign-less crowd that serve only to further an administrative interest at the expense of tradition and atmosphere. Only some of the people in the athletic department do." -'Scott Stadium Blues,' 10/2/2008 Brian,

Some would argue that what's not "great" about the photo is that it makes our stadium indistinguishable from so many others around the country. What's intimidating about Clemson or VPI coming to town and seeing the same crowd they do at their home venues? Perhaps if we all hadn't "blindly followed" the marketing campaigns for orange in the first place, the athletic department wouldn't have felt it had the authority to try to take over another part of the gameday atmosphere (signs).

I don't think the protest is a backdoor shot at the "Sea of Orange," I think it's an open, direct slap in its face. In addressing the protest, sports column today in the Cav Daily provides what is to me one of the best pieces of writing the paper has seen in years:

"The idea to wear blue instead of orange is simple and expressive. With enough participation, the student body will be able to show that policies and dress codes don’t create a positive game-day atmosphere — the fans themselves do. They will be able to show that an out-of-touch former NFL coach doesn’t have the power to unilaterally change the traditions that surround Virginia football. Only the fans themselves do. And they will be able to tell athletic director Craig Littlepage that the students don’t want to buy into manufactured ploys like the “Sea of Orange” and a sign-less crowd that serve only to further an administrative interest at the expense of tradition and atmosphere. Only some of the people in the athletic department do."

-'Scott Stadium Blues,' 10/2/2008

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