Spokane7
59°
February 23, 2012 in City
GU students promote good cheer heading into BYU game
Some fans mocked Mormons after last GU loss to BYU
Gonzaga University seniors Jordyn Pillatzke, left, and Madison Merz protect their “Take the Hate Out of Hoops” posters from the wind Wednesday as they go to hang them in advance of tonight’s men’s basketball game against Brigham Young University. Tipoff is 8 p.m.
(Full-size photo)
With so much riding on tonight’s basketball game, Bulldog fans might be expected to raise a few derisive howls against conference rival Brigham Young University, but a Gonzaga University business class has taken upon itself the task of toning down remarks targeting Mormons.
“We’re known for cheering against other teams, but we don’t need to bring it to a level that involves discrimination,” said Jordyn Pillatzke, a student in GU’s Hate Studies in Business class. “Making fun of the Mormons and their values – it’s something that doesn’t need to take place on the basketball court.”
After the last GU-BYU matchup earlier this month, an event that ended in a Zags loss, there were “some very negative remarks about Mormons and the Mormon faith” posted on the Twitter account @gonzagaproblems, said Molly Pepper, assistant professor of management and one of four instructors teaching the Hate Studies class.
The remarks about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Pepper said, run counter to the commitment to respect for everyone that Gonzaga University, a Catholic institution, stands for.
Pepper recalled that one of her students said, “Maybe this is a super-dorky idea, but couldn’t we start a Facebook page called ‘Take the Hate Out of Hoops’?”
That student was Hannah Drabinski.
“Well, we started out making a Facebook page and sending it out to all our friends on Facebook and encouraging them to take the pledge, which basically means to be self-aware and not use any forms of discrimination,” Drabinski said.
After about 500 people “liked” the Facebook page, the class decided to make posters and ordered 2,000 wristbands, which are apparently on a UPS truck somewhere in Spokane.
Of course, not everybody appreciates the “Take the Hate Out of Hoops” movement. Of particular note is the rival “Wear Missionary Gear to the BYU Game” Facebook page created by three male Zag fans. Judging from the sparse number of comments on their page, nobody “likes” them anyway.
Attempts to contact the “Wear Missionary Gear to the BYU Game” creators went unanswered late Wednesday.
Drabinski said college sports are such a competitive environment that many people think “anything goes.”
But she and other Hate Studies students think comments about Mormons abstaining from alcohol and premarital sex are going too far.
So the students are going to the McCarthey Athletic Center early tonight to hand out the wristbands that bear their motto, “Take the Hate Out of Hoops,” with hopes that their civility-in-sports movement takes root – in the West Coast Conference, at least.
“We really think this is a widespread thing, and so we want to start here at Gonzaga but have a ripple effect throughout the conference and maybe throughout all of sports,” Drabinski said.
Idaho vodka ban cocktail of bad judgment 
greenlibertarian2nd on February 23 at 12:51 a.m.
Good on the Kennel Club kids for doing this. There are enough problems in the world without further inflaming inter-religious mockery.
jamestucker on February 23 at 3:56 a.m.
That’ what High Speed Universities is all about, to further the education of students. They need more than a high school degree today, they need at least 2 years of college, preferrably 4, and then we’re going to work with communities so they can grow economically and create more jobs for our young people
zags4life on February 23 at 6:41 a.m.
Wearing missionary gear to sporting events isn’t funny, and it definitely isn’t original in the least bit. Good on these students for attempting to clamp down on any bigotry. You don’t need to be offensive to be a great student section
yipykia on February 23 at 8:44 a.m.
That is great that the students are standing up for civility. Its ironic that some students who attend a Roman Catholic Institution that teaches Christianity can rip on and mock the standards of another Christian Institution. I’ve been to some great sporting events in the biggest arenas and a big part of the sporting experience is having the opposing teams fans show respect for the visiting teams fans by being civil. Especially when religious institutions are involved. Looking forward to an awesome game tonight between 2 good basketball programs!
taquineur on February 23 at 8:51 a.m.
Great initiative! Sports are contentious by nature but religion doesn’t need to be a part of it. Hopefully the message gets across. However, judging from the cheers and signs coming from the 50+ Zags fans sitting near us in the Marriott Center when Gonzaga visited BYU earlier this month, they’ve got some work to do to cut out the anti-LDS rhetoric.
SDSU has been doing the missionary thing for years and opposing fans virtually everywhere BYU has played this year have brought up Brandon Davies and honor code-related chants and signs. Zags fans should look at it as a challenge to come up with some new, original material.
FBC1979 on February 23 at 9:09 a.m.
“That is great that the students are standing up for civility. Its ironic that some students who attend a Roman Catholic Institution that teaches Christianity can rip on and mock the standards of another Christian Institution.”
That same institution developed the same kids who are promoting the “Take the Hate Out of Hoops” mantra. The only thing that’s ironic is that your backhanded bigotry, espousing respect for one faith while banging on the other.
As far as wearing missionary gear to a game or making fun of Brandon Davies goes…it’s not original, but neither does all poking fun at people have to always fall under the “hate” category. Silly? Sure. Juvenile? Ditto. Hate? Probably not. Why don’t folks tone down the rhetoric. It’ll chill everyone out on both sides of any issue.
Everyone is too sensitive to non-issues. Don’t laugh. Don’t pay attention. Problem solved.
??Riddler?? on February 23 at 10:27 a.m.
Bicycle helmet ?? Check
Short sleeved white shirt ?? Check
Skinny 60’s tie - dark ?? Check
Sense of humor ?? Check & Double Check
Guess I’m ready for the game!
yipykia on February 23 at 11:07 a.m.
1979 - Not sure you understand my comment - So let me clarify it. If you belonged to an religous institution whos standards are mocked each season - you would take notice of the issue. The irony comes into play when it is a group of people from a religous institution mocking another group of people from a religous institution. Unless you believe in leaving your religion at any door you choose, it raises the irony. Notice how I stated “some students” and did not throw everyone into that catagory. Also notice the credit given at the very beginning of my comment to the students who are promoting “take the hate out of hoops”. I’m sorry if you missunderstood. Issue or non issue depends on whos perspective. Not sure who the sensitive one is. Looking forward to a great game tonight!
homeowner123457 on February 23 at 1:30 p.m.
I posted a comment on the GU facebook page referencing this initiative and encouraging good sportsmanship, they sorted through the comments and deleted mine from 2 different posts even though I wrote nothing offensive and they left all the comments around mine in place.
Whoever runs that page obviously doesn’t agree with this.
utzag on February 23 at 3:37 p.m.
I was also at the gu game in Provo. All signs were searched by security and many were taken away….in addition, I was flipped off and told off by a couple nice fellows wearing ybu hats and shirts. Nice saintly behavior……they are not innocent. Give it to them kennel club.
Jilloryan on February 24 at 10:24 a.m.
Oh goodness. It’s all just in good fun. Everyone flipping out over this needs to relax and giggle a little. Other’s can counter by dressing up as nuns or priests. Have a little fun!
sfjjred on February 25 at 9:45 a.m.
Funny thing is these two are females and the students at GU rarely or very few even support their women’s team. So maybe they should be carrying around signs to stop the sexism on that campus. Do the women not deserve the support just as the men do???? Hey they sell out to but with local Spokane residents not the students even though half of them are female!