2008 Woodie Awards
Hey song is gone
Andrew Wheelan
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
A timeout is called with a minute left in the second half and Winthrop's fast break is halted mid court. Sweat pours down the players' faces as they huddle around the coach. Some gulp water like it will be their last time. The crowd's intensity takes a rest with the team, but not for long. A familiar blast is heard from the direction of the pep band and the students begin to sing along to the crowd favorite: "The Hey song."
"Hey! You suck," the Eagle fans scream as the song comes to an end. Everyone laughs with a feeling of contentment; they have helped boost the basketball team's moral.
Winthrop fans will no longer sing to this favorite tune. It has been erased from the playlist for this year's basketball season. "You suck" is crossing the line, according to the athletic department.
"I was the one who told the pep band to stop playing it," said Athletic Director Tom Hickman.
He feels that it is a great song, but the ending is not very sportsmanlike.
"In terms of students, if they could refrain from saying it, then the song could be played; but if they are going to do it, it won't be had," Hickman said.
Hickman said that this phrase singles people out and is offensive.
This decision has received mixed signals from students. In a survey of 20 students, five liked the decision while 15 thought that the song was essential to the WU basketball experience.
Those in favor of the verdict feel that the statement is uncalled for.
Sophomore, business administration major, Marcus Smith said, "Yeah, I can see how that can be offensive. I don't want anybody's feelings to get hurt."
WU Crew members sit directly to the right of the visiting bench, so anything that is said is within earshot of those on the opposing team.
"Songs shouldn't be degrading; they should always pump us up, never put the other team down. I always thought 'you suck' was stupid," Eric Schaffer, a senior English and philosophy double major, said.
"Hey! You suck," the Eagle fans scream as the song comes to an end. Everyone laughs with a feeling of contentment; they have helped boost the basketball team's moral.
Winthrop fans will no longer sing to this favorite tune. It has been erased from the playlist for this year's basketball season. "You suck" is crossing the line, according to the athletic department.
"I was the one who told the pep band to stop playing it," said Athletic Director Tom Hickman.
He feels that it is a great song, but the ending is not very sportsmanlike.
"In terms of students, if they could refrain from saying it, then the song could be played; but if they are going to do it, it won't be had," Hickman said.
Hickman said that this phrase singles people out and is offensive.
This decision has received mixed signals from students. In a survey of 20 students, five liked the decision while 15 thought that the song was essential to the WU basketball experience.
Those in favor of the verdict feel that the statement is uncalled for.
Sophomore, business administration major, Marcus Smith said, "Yeah, I can see how that can be offensive. I don't want anybody's feelings to get hurt."
WU Crew members sit directly to the right of the visiting bench, so anything that is said is within earshot of those on the opposing team.
"Songs shouldn't be degrading; they should always pump us up, never put the other team down. I always thought 'you suck' was stupid," Eric Schaffer, a senior English and philosophy double major, said.
Be the first to comment on this story