At a university founded in the 1700s by one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, it’s no surprise that traditions are a big deal.
But traditions often lead to controversy when they involve throwing things — whether it’s toast at football games, ketchup during Hey Day or streamers at basketball games.
Big 5 fans used to throw streamers in the Palestra after their team’s first field goal. However, the NCAA banned the pastime in the mid-1980s when Princeton fans started throwing marshmallows — and students in other parts of the country started throwing more dangerous objects.
Now, the tradition has been revised and modified. Student season-ticket holders will receive streamers to throw after each men’s basketball team win. We appreciate the revival of a former pastime and hope that this — and Penn Athletics’ other new initiatives — increase school spirit. And we hope the Quakers give fans plenty of opportunities to throw streamers onto the court.
Of course, fans must also make sure to put safety first. We’d like to think that Penn students have enough common sense and pride not to copy a mistake made by students at other colleges.
Penn’s bringing back a source of fun. Students, don’t screw it up.
