STAFF EDITORIAL: Shut up about sitting down

The Athletic Department's policy against standing at basketball games has been a ridiculous failure this season. But then, just as suddenly, three security guards in gray sportcoats ordered two full sections of students to sit down on the threat of ejection from the arena. For years, the Athletic Department has had a rule on the books prohibiting students on the sidelines from standing during basketball games, ostensibly so as not to block other fans' views of the court. This year, for the first time, the rule is being vigorously enforced. We have five words for the Athletic Department: It's a college basketball game. Students are supposed to stand, cheer and stomp wildly for their home team. At Penn, it's what gives the Palestra some of its legendary character. The measures the Athletic Department would take to actually suppress enjoyment of the game are truly mind-boggling. On the sidelines, members of the event staff too often motion for fans' obedience while themselves blocking many people's views of the court. What this practice creates is an unnecessary but unavoidable tension between paying ticketholders and security guards. Far too often, staff and students have had strong words when on-the-court action deserved the fans' attention. While fans should show some class in their support of the Quakers, tonight's game against Princeton will be the most raucous of the year. It would be ridiculous for officials to attempt to enforce their no-standing policy during the game against the Tigers. No one benefits from continual student harassment and off-the-court disruptions. The Athletic Department should take the approaching off-season to revise a clearly failed policy. Other schools, including Stanford and Duke, seat students and alumni in such a way that neither interferes with the other's enjoyment of the game. Because in the end, at tonight's game, Penn fans' animosity should be directed at the opposing Tigers and not at the home team's security staff.