If the ever-aggressive student section can shrug off the urge to hurl insults at the Tigers’ opponent during the Nov. 1 Tulane game, they may earn back the chance to shout out a favorite chant.In this semester’s second Student Government cabinet meeting, SG President Colorado Robertson focused on two issues important to the student body. First was the possibility of establishing assessments for individual student organizations. Second was a plan to revive the traditional “Oh-Wee-Oh” chant during football games.”We have some very clever students here who can always insert something offensive into the chants,” Robertson said. “We’ll have to change the culture of the student section to earn another chance.”After students added “You suck” to the chant in recent seasons, Tiger Band stopped participating. During last season’s South Carolina game, fans added a shortened version of South Carolina’s mascot — the Gamecocks — to the end of the chant. Band officials cited unsportsmanlike conduct as their reason for ending the chant.”Once it was brought to our attention, we started to listen, and we could hear it,” said Roy King, assistant director of bands. “We stopped playing the chant because it reflects unsportmanlike conduct.”Traditionally, the chant ended with fans yelling “L-S-U Tigers!” King said he would be happy to see a return to that tradition.During the meeting, SG and student organization officials kicked around ideas for a new, less offensive ending for the chant. The ideas were simple, ranging from just shouting “Tigers!” to yelling “We rock.”Robertson said multiple times that he doesn’t want to censor students. Instead, he supported changing the tone of the chants to bring the band back.Robertson said students will get the chance to mend their ways at the upcoming Tulane game. After the first touchdown, the band will be silent to give students a chance to amend the chant. If band officials are satisfied, they will join back in with the usual thunder of Tiger Band.While most present at the meeting were interested in bringing the chant back to life, opinions varied about the ability to change the aggressive culture of the student section.”I’d put all my chips on this working,” said Sanjay Juneja, College of Basic Sciences president. “Students are so eager for one more chance.”Others present weren’t so positive.Matt Gravens said the reality of changing the student section’s culture in four weeks is unlikely. Gravens, a columnist at The Daily Reveille, stood in for John Michael Early, Interfraternatity Council president.If students are successful in reviving the “Oh-Wee-Oh” chant during the Tulane game, Robertson said it may be the first step toward bringing back the beloved “Tiger Rag” chant, also banned because of student-altered language.—-Contact Adam Duvernay at [email protected]
‘Oh-Wee-Oh’ chant may return this season
October 9, 2008