Column: Opposing viewpoints 'Stick It In'
Tuesday, October 2, 2007; 12:00 AM
Stick it where? Who's sticking what? Why are we "sticking" anything in? Do these commonly unanswered questions ring a provocatively, sexually explicit bell?

If you think so, then you join the thousands of people who are questioning the ethics of our Hokie cheer. This hip-thrusting football chant is designed to make students feel exhilarated, raunchy and somewhat like a tease while adults participate as an attempt to clutch and grope their past.

When broken down to the logistics of these chosen words, this chant is quite vulgar and shows a great misrepresentation of both sexes.

Not only does this suggest the raping and pillaging of women, it also suggests that man's only purpose is reproduction and establishing dominance.

On the other hand, this football chant is out of facetiousness and is to be taken as a drop in the bucket. Yes, it is uncouth, uncivilized and animalistic, but whatever happened to the freedom of expression?

Are we just going to disregard the college standard of upholding the first amendment through tattoos, piercings, free love, and Stick It In, come hell or high water? There is also yet another problem with the chanting dilemma: our actions not only reflect ourselves, but the university.

If Virginia Tech were to become the streaking capital of college campuses, the approval and acceptability of the institution would plummet faster than a drunken girl's panties at a keg party.

Is it that we're grooming a society full of four-inch mini skirts and boxers on parade? Or are we merely becoming too uptight about a few words in our "free" college community?

If analyzed, the salute to scoring has several assorted meanings; however, we will only thrust ourselves into the main arguments of scoring and "scoring."

To take the matter firmly in sports terms, the fans mean to say, "Would you please score a touchdown."

This is a generally accepted form of talking about scoring; even the ESPN announcers say stick it in the end zone.

Does this mean it is reasonable to say so? It's probably not the best choice of language. On the other hand, the hand that's flicking off "The Man," we have the purely carnal interpretation; man sticks penis in woman.

Whether wanted or not, society depicts the man as a piece of meat and the girl as a soft, lost lamb who is vulnerable to the male species. This could also be taken a second and third way as well.

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Posted by: LK at 10/07/07 I don't even know the author, but (a) it seems like she gave both viewpoints, so who cares what facebook group she's in? and (b) if it's just an article about a football cheer, then why get so mad and use such strong language? I agree that stick it in doesn't imply rape or anything, but for god's sake, you are acting like an article giving both sides of the story is the end of the world. Chill out. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Hokie 02 grad at 10/04/07 IT'S A FOOTBALL CHEER, FOR GOD'S SAKE! Who cares? I can't believe people are actually talking about this. No one is going to "remember VT" for a stinkin' cheer most people (unless they come to one of their away games) have NEVER heard!! Get over it. It's a cheer we've all done and loved....it has to do with FOOTBALL and there happens to be a funny, subtle sexual innuendo. If you've watched any of the thousands of children's movies put out every year, you'd see that there are FAR worse innuendos put into these movies for the parents watching. Nobody says anything about these..... This is solely an issue because some alumni that have money have a stick up their....well, wouldn't want to say it....it might "offend someone". Grow up and get over it all already. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kyle Minor at 10/04/07 It is fairly disturbing that this topic is still a cause for debate. Genocide in Darfur, war in Iraq, socialized medicine. . . .all these are cause for important discussion. A silly old cheer is not. Move on with your lives! Flag Abuse
Posted by: DC at 10/04/07 In response to C. Levine's post: I think we all understand what the author is doing. But her argument from the other side is ridiculous. The notion that this cheer downsizes rape and supports man's domination over women is utterly insane. The fact that this issue has even reached this point makes my head hurt... and makes me sad for the future of Hokie football... Flag Abuse
Posted by: hokie01 at 10/03/07 I used to care .. but, it isnt a democracy, so why bother. Weaver makes the rules, he does whatever the rich alumni say, because they built lane stadium.. so, until he is gone, so is stick it in... Flag Abuse
Posted by: formerhokie at 10/03/07 Didn't know if everyone saw this but Oregon does a cheer similar to stick it in... just more vulgar... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R24ddwagrTs Flag Abuse
Posted by: C. Levine at 10/03/07 Well I honestly think this article was meant to bring up a topic of debate, which it obviously has, but I see no one actually arguing the other side. There is always another side. In this case the author is simply trying to play devil's advocate and voice a different opinion. Her true opinion cannot be derived from one article, though. As for the writing style, I believe a good writer is someone who is willing to bring up a controversial, if trivial topic. Who is willing to argue the side no one wants to talk about. But this is just my opinion. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Evan at 10/03/07 There's no need to type in bold letters to get your moot point across, or make this personal. Looks like you have some anger issues that need to be worked out, or maybe you just need to get "laid" as Ms. Ellis would put it; either way I'm over arguing with someone with no opinion, and I just happen to know a good anger-management counselor if you need one. Peace. Flag Abuse
Posted by: A.Gordon at 10/03/07 The opinions in this article ARE NOT Ms. Ellis's actual opinions, she was exploring opinions of the extreme views that some people hold. And I am not trying to get anyone to "fight me," I am trying to defend Ms. Ellis in a way. Attacking a writer is no way to go about things, had either of you known the background of why this article was written you may understand it more, but I'm not going to tell you, because you all deserve to continue thinking on an extremely biased brainwaves. Sometimes in order to form an opinion about something you must obtain all the information, before speaking out. Since clearly none of you have done that or have any clue where this came from so I have no respect for any of your opinions. But keep thinking you are better then Ms. Ellis, and myself, and everyone else because that will really get you places in life. It is people like you which make our world the messed up place that it is (even though your sitting there thinking its me.) Flag Abuse
Posted by: Ken at 10/03/07 Eh Evan, don't let yourself get hung up on people like Gordon - their mission is to detract from the argument and get you to fight them and not the issue. Read any online forum nowadays and find hundreds of them. The bottom line is that this article is poorly written, completely out of line, and a perfect demonstration of hypocrisy (Amanda is in the original 'Stick It In' Facebook group; she's been a fan of this cheer for a long time). If you are unhappy with what's happened, you'll be glad to hear that I am bringing a resolution from the graduate student body (pending approval, which is likely) to request the athletic committee to review the Athletic Director position. SGA is making a similar resolution I believe. So, voice to your representatives, and we'll take it to the committee (and Stick It to the man!). Flag Abuse
Posted by: Evan at 10/03/07 "Mr. or Ms. Gordon," whatever you are; It's good to see someone reading nowadays. I'm glad you can read everybody's opinions here, and come up with such a poorly justified response. In no way did I comment that the "post-tragedy image" was the main point. It merely concludes the column, and I made a coherent thought appear about it in my comment. I would suggest some independent thinking on your part, and not sum up what other people have said and add a dollar sign to what you may think is captivating. Thank you for the being the all-knowing person that you are though, hope that works out in the long run. Flag Abuse
Posted by: A.Gordon at 10/02/07 All of you are pathetic. As for you “Ana B,” what you may not know is that Ms. Ellis has no control of the format in which her article is printed. As for Virginia Tech English classes, I think it is wrong of you to criticize what they are teaching, criticize the way newspapers are publishing articles. “Evan,” you are completely missing the entire point of this article, in no way is the main point that we need to have a good “post-tragedy image,” but the university does need to watch the image in which we are portraying to the public. The eyes of the media, student’s family members, and many people of the public are going to be on us this year. That is what happens in the wake of a tragedy. The meaning in which “Stick It In” has differs from person to person. Ms. Ellis is just exploring some of the few, radical views of this cheer, and trying to find what meaning they see behind it; because sadly some people see it this way. Otherwise Jim Weaver wouldn’t have taken action against our beloved cheer. Someone, somewhere, who’s contributing a generous amount of money to our university, decided that when they come to the football games, they don’t like hearing the “Stick It In” cheer. All of you are completely missing the main point of this article, and I am sorry that your reading comprehension skills are that bad. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Robert Ridgell at 10/02/07 Stick It In! Stick It In! Stick It In! ...... Oh and Fire Jim Weaver. Now as for Amanda Ellis she obviously is one of the people I identify as a d-bag. Over thinking things and arguing being PC till she is blue in the face. Now that we are all done reading this long, confusing, poorly written rag how about we remember that everyone is going to be offended by something someone somewhere says and people should stop trying to censor everyone because they are obviously lacking "a life". So Amanda before you start peeking out of your home's window worrying about your neighbor's newest lawn ornament and the color of your lawn, go get a life! Flag Abuse
Posted by: Paul at 10/02/07 Despite the sexual innuendo behind this cheer, it is just that...a cheer. It is meant to unify the crowd in a fun, spirited action to motivate our football team. Although the band is outlawed from doing it, there is still a large amount of fans that support the cheer and that will most likely not change. Collegiate football is supposed to be entertaining and fun to watch. At times it is very serious, but as fans lets not make the act of watching it so. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Evan at 10/02/07 After taking all of this in, I can't think of how the CT could "stick this in" their paper. Oh I'm sorry, did I say something demeaning to women there? The truth is that these issues are real and they should not to be overlooked in our society; however, this case stands as a desperate attempt to make some sort of coherent opinion on these issues within our own community. What bothers me is that she is furthering her own opinion on the reason that we should look at the tragedy in our community as an excuse to evaluate our image and the way we cheer at football games. I'm also bothered by the fact that she thinks we have a post-tragedy image to uphold; I don't think that even exists because our image has certainly not changed, it has strengthened if anything. I see many personal driven opinions that are assumed in this column, and there is no reason to take such a positive and simple cheer from the Hokie football fans out there. Ms. Debbie Downer, a.k.a Amanda Ellis, needs to evaluate her reasoning behind taking something beloved and positive in our community that has already experienced so much loss. This is neither the time, nor the place to question the passion and motivation behind such a cheer that embodies our football team scoring a touchdown, while each one may help those get over events that have scarred our recent memory. If you don't like the cheer, then don't do it; there's no hidden meaning here. I'm sure the other thousands of people in Lane Stadium and around the Hokie Nation could care less about what some immature, and uninformed feminist thinks about a perfectly logical football cheer. Consult other people, such as Lia Cross below, that actually know about current issues facing women, don't desperately look for hidden meanings and provoke a reaction that you couldn't possibly understand. Go Hokies. Stick it in, Stick it in, Stick it in. Flag Abuse
Posted by: 80s Alum at 10/02/07 The saddest aspect of this column, of which there are many, is that it took the author weeks after the original decision to write this tripe. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Ana B at 10/02/07 Just wondering, what are they teaching in English classes these days? Since when are one sentence paragraphs considered publishable material. This is nothing more than a bullet point list with out the bullets. I'm sure Ms. Ellis had a point to make but it's lost on me. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kate at 10/02/07 How did the Stick It In cheer somehow become about rape? Why is the CT even posting garbage like this? It's articles like the one above, comparing a legitimate issue (rape/domination of women) to a silly football cheer, that diminish the seriousness of such crimes. This cheer means to simply "Stick it in" the endzone! Some people turn everything into something sexual.... but honestly, who cares? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Lia Cross at 10/02/07 With all the fuss that Mr. Weaver's decision has caused, it interests me that the supporters of Women's Rights will spend more time debating the merits of the "stick it in" cheer, than they will on other issues: such as Justice Clarence Thomas' attacks on Anita Hill 16 years after the whole situation ended (brief recap: Anita Hill, along with several other women who worked with Clarence Thomas at the EEOC, indicated that she was sexually harassed by Clarence Thomas). Now, the fact that a US Supreme Court Justice is still working to villify a woman who alleges that he sexually harassed her sends a powerful message to our country, and will possibly cause current and future victims of sexual harassment to avoid speaking out. Now THAT's an issue. Flag Abuse
Posted by: DC at 10/02/07 Rape and pillage? Establishing dominance? If anyone is seriously thinking about these things while listening to a chant at a football game, please seek help. And may God have mercy on your tortured soul. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Concerned at 10/02/07 Lia... always on point with the comments. Nuff said! Flag Abuse
Posted by: Lia Cross at 10/02/07 Obviously, anyone who knows anything about football knows that the cheer means to get the ball into the endzone & is also a cheer used to encourage the team to make a field goal. It's a cheer; it's that simple. I never heard of this many people protesting the cheer until Mr. Weaver opted to ban the Marching Virginians from playing the music that accompanies the cheer. For those who are really that concerned about women's rights, why not participate in the "Take Back the Night" marches and focus on other issues that seriously impact women's rights...some of the same women who decry the "stick it in" cheer, will undoubtedly be scantily clad and crowding the bars downtown, or one of the numerous parties in and around Blacksburg this weekend; what hurts our image more: a football cheer or the overall way that some of us as women carry ourselves? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jimmy at 10/02/07 Heck...I dunno...how bout we ask the thousands upon thousands of women (young and old) who participate in the chant how they feel about it? Flag Abuse






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