COLUMN: Media wrong for blaming Greeks

Matt Wurst, Commentary The University, campus police and city news outlets are all quick to blame last weekend's post-game altercation between Penn fans and a combination of players and parents after last weekend's Ivy League baseball doubleheader at Bower Field on the alcohol being consumed by spectators. The worst example is last Wednesday's Philadelphia Daily News cover story, "The Brawls of Ivy," in which two reporters who were most likely not even at Sunday's games misled readers by assailing "beer-fueled frat boys." The Daily News, the University and whoever is conducting the investigation into the fracas should be careful to separate what went on during the game and what went on after the game. There were two distantly related actions, the heckling of Columbia players during the game, and the escalation of tempers incited by abusive Columbia players and fans directed at Penn players and bystanders. I take no pride in the actions and behaviors manifested by a group of my fellow students. The racial and ethnically insensitive comments and chants are inexcusable and have no place at any sporting event, let alone in the Ivy League. A small group of fans was undoubtedly drunk, leading to the unruly behavior during the game. However, it is unfair to lump all Penn spectators and fans together as having been inebriated. It is also wrong, but typical, to blame everyone for the actions of a few. Most of those in attendance, many of whom are members of the Greek community, were not drunk. They were simply enjoying the weather, Penn Athletics and each other. On the whole, the spirit of the Quaker faithful was strong. It is rare to have such strong support at baseball games, and their presence created a noticeable home-field advantage. Columbia was visibly affected. During infield practice between innings, the Columbia third baseman fired the ball into the vociferous crowd on several occasions, while the Lions committed five errors in the first few innings of the second game. After the second game had been completed, many began to disperse, while some Penn fans gathered near the Quakers' dugout to congratulate the players. However, as the Columbia players began to gather their equipment, many began shouting at the hometown spectators. As the fever grew, the parents of the losing side began to express their frustration. When the two sides converged near the exit, the shouting match turned into a shoving match. However, it wasn't the group of Penn supporters that started the pushing, but a bunch of mothers of Columbia players. Unfortunately, the responsibility of the Columbia supporters was lost, and the blame was placed on fraternity members. In the other University settings where alcohol plays a role, there is rarely a problem. For example, also two weekends ago, the junior class board-sponsored Skimmer hosted many drunk Penn students, great 80-degree weather and no supervision. To make matters potentially worse, many of the drunk Skimmer attendees were angry at being misled about the event's actual location, the lack of food, beverages and scarce accommodating bathroom facilities. Yet there was no brawl. And the University event possibly best known for the combination of alcohol and good weather, Spring Fling -- a time when "water bottles" with blends of vodka and whatever's-in-the fridge can be found in every student's hand -- has never been known to result in fisticuffs. It wasn't the alcohol that unilaterally caused either of the two unsportsmanlike displays of behavior at the Penn-Columbia games, though its presence certainly did not improve matters. It was the overwhelming support that the Penn fans in question were showing for their friends and housemates that spurred the disparaging remarks about Columbia players, and it was the pride in Columbia and that provoked its fans' offensive physicalities. Lost in this mess is the future for spectators at future Penn baseball games. The team has requested security measures at upcoming games. Undoubtedly, the presence will diminish fan support for the Quakers and the advantage they hold in playing at Bower Field. Fans should still be able to enjoy beverages at sporting events as long as their behavior is not harming the players or affecting other spectators' enjoyment of the game. "I would hope that they continue to come, but that they are more controlled," Penn coach Bob Seddon said. "They will be because there is going to be Security present." This past weekend, due most likely to the more frigid temperatures, the fan support was drastically reduced, and thanks to the yellow-jacketed security guards, much less vocal and boisterous. The Quakers lost all four games Saturday and Sunday to Brown and Yale, in part because the home-field advantage that Penn enjoyed in the four-win weekend last week was gone quicker than a cup of chugged beer.