Opinion

Students: Jump Around!

Students across campus are crying foul. For the first time since 1998, the fourth quarter of a Badger football game began without the playing of House of Pain’s “Jump Around.”

Students have a right to be upset, as this is not just any old tradition. Most students will refuse to leave a game before they have jumped around, no matter the score, no matter the weather. It is a tradition that has become nationally recognized, even described as the song that defines a Wisconsin football game.

Students responded by jumping around without the music for a short period of time, flipped off the press box while chanting “Fuck the sound guy” and finally did the unthinkable: sat down during the game.

This move alone should show the athletic department and administration the extent of student-body anger over the decision. Almost 85 percent of the student section sat down during a game that became increasingly more intense. Akron scored a touchdown with 11:12 left in the fourth quarter to cut the Badger lead to 34-31 in the midst of a critical junction of the game, when the Badgers on the field most needed their “12th man.”

Officials in the athletic department stated the decision was not based on whether the jumping activity would affect the structural integrity of the new additions to the stadium. They assured us the stadium is completely safe and that “the jumping” would not have a direct effect on the new additions to the stadium.

Rather, the athletic department said it has received complaints for years that jumping to “Jump Around” was “unsettling” to members of the press box and upper decks. The department also explained the decision to cut out the song was made late last week as a cautionary matter. Officials believed it was in the fans’ best interest to be careful in every aspect of the game.

If these two arguments don’t make sense to you, then you are not alone. If safety is a concern, then why allow students inside the stadium at all? Since safety is not a concern, why stop playing the song? What is the real reason why we cannot jump around?

Was the decision made just to be “cautious” or was it made because some of the fans and media at the game felt it was ‘unsettling’ to be in the stands during the mere minute and a half the song is played?

We believe this decision is a reaction to complaints rather than erring on the side of caution and that the construction excuse is just that: an excuse.

Perhaps the athletic department should enact a rule that the student section may not leave their feet during a touchdown celebration or a turnover as the weak-stomached individuals in the upper deck and press box might feel scared then, too.

The athletic department also shared with the Badger Herald that the song will not be played again until the stadium reconstruction is complete in 2005, unless the department decides to revisit the decision.

This entire situation reeks of unfairness.

We call on students to stand up for their jumping rights and let the administration know this tradition cannot and will not be taken away from us. The athletic department needs to reconsider playing the song. Write e-mails, make calls, create T-shirts and by all means continue to jump around for the entire time between the third and fourth quarters.

Experience shows us many of you are not typically motivated to become involved in political protests, but we are willing to bet this is one protest you might want to get behind.

Hell, maybe even ASM will take a break from the picket lines at Tyson Foods and write a resolution about an issue for which the student body shows real concern.

We urge students: do not let this tradition die without a fight. Students were not consulted about this decision and the administration better believe that not telling us only made things worse. This is going to be a fight students will not give up.

 

Upset about this decision? Contact Athletic Director Pat Richter pat@athletics.wisc.edu) and Associate Athletic Director Steve Malchow (sdm@athletics.wisc.edu) and let them know what you think.

Editors note: On Wednesday, at 10:30am in the Mendota Gridiron Room at Camp Randall (enter through Gate 15) the Athletic Department will have its weekly game management meeting. This is an open meeting that students can attend.