Monday morning, a student athlete tells their peers that they have a game on Thursday and they want as many people there as possible to cheer on the home team. Plans are made and students prepare for the game, but when they get there, they sit in the bleachers quietly and occasionally cheer when the Spartans score. Occasional chants are started, but not everyone joins in and students are shushed for noise.  While these chants are usually used to support friends playing in the game, students are scared to join in because they fear it will have ramifications. That shouldn’t be a thought on student’s minds when they are positively cheering on their friend.

The MSHSL makes an announcement before every game to “respect the players, the coaches, and the officials” and that is a reasonable request, but they aren’t asking for students to be absolutely silent. In recent years, our student sections have been silenced when we try to start chants, whether it was putting us on probation after a U-S-A chant at the United state hockey tournament or taking one of our drumsticks from the famous GVS drum. It is ridiculous to silence students who are trying to have a fun time supporting their friends.

We go to school and take tests, quizzes, and listen to lessons all day, so some students go to games to take their mind off of the stress of school and all their work. Student sections are one way to have fun and support a team with cheers and chants; they shouldn’t be scared of punishments or of being silenced. I’m not saying students should go to game and start vulgar chants and attack the other team: I’m saying that students should attend games, have fun cheering for friends, and not be afraid to join in a chant.