I hope future workers of home games are less rude and more kind to fans. 

Though some of the workers may be hired who aren’t affiliated with our university, they are still representing Southeastern at that time. If the workers would have said a few kind words or handled particular situations differently, I would have not had a negative experience when I went to support the Lions football team protect their home turf for the first time this semester. 

First, I would like to point out that this opinion is not meant to say don’t go to football games. Quite the opposite, it is to tell how important the little things are that keep fans happy.  

As an undergraduate, I took anywhere from 15 to 21 hours of classes a semester and worked close to 60 hours a week to pay all my bills and for my classes. As a graduate student, I have a lot more studying that I need to do but I have become an expert at time management. I have become actively involved with my organization, Alpha Psi Omega, and we had our first real bonding event outside of organizational meetings. It just so happened to be on the same day as the first home game. So, I took off from work a month in advance to enjoy bonding with my fellow APO members as well as having the chance to head out to Strawberry Stadium to support the Lions afterwards.  

In the morning, I rode my bike to North Oak Park because I do not own a car. I had a blast at my APO event and afterwards, I went home and cleaned up. I promised my friend that I would visit her where she worked in downtown and grabbed my bag to head out. I am diabetic, I need to carry my school supplies with me since any free moment I have, I work on my graduate research and needed to carry extra water in case I had an issue with blood sugar. Little did I know that this would be the downfall of my enjoyment for the day. 

I had a blast talking to my friend, made it back to campus in time to enjoy tailgating and the festivities of Family Day and made my way to the gates of the stands before the start of the game. 

As I  was in line, this lady saw me from the check point and screamed at me that I could not enter. Without even kindly waiting till I got to the front of the line, she singled me out amongst the crowd and told me very forcibly, “You have to go put that in your car now because you can’t come in here.” She failed to make it obvious that it was my bookbag that she was talking about and I was extremely confused and had everyone around me looking directly at me. Needless to say, I was ashamed of something I did before I even knew what I needed to be ashamed of.

I read press releases about the game, nothing had mentioned bag size requirements. I had not had the chance to go to games as an undergraduate so I was unaware, and needless to say, that shouldn’t have mattered since it was the first home game. Also, I didn’t have a car to put my bookbag in and my diabetic supplies couldn’t have even fitted the requirements of the size of the bag you could carry in. In my eyes, the only reason she made an exception was because I pointed out my insulin couldn’t get through, and after I made it through the gates, I laughed every time I saw someone carrying a purse larger than the maximum bag requirement size. I completely understand safety in the world we live in, but if she would have just politely waited till I got to the front of the line, explained the situation and not made me feel ashamed of something I was unaware of, I would have gone into the football game with a more positive attitude. Thank goodness Wiseguys was there. 

My other complaint is for those guarding the stands’ rail nearest the field. I agree with keeping the traffic flowing when it is heavy and to let those in the stands see. But, if there is not heavy traffic and fans want to take a quick photo since they are sitting at the top of the stands, those people do not need two heavy, and honestly at their quick movement, scary men approaching them and telling them to move. I’m sorry that I blocked the view for a second but the last time I saw a football game on T.V., it didn’t seem that the crowd was being told to, “Shut up and sit down.” Let that one fan or fans take that quick photo for a memory and then get back to their seat. If they are there lingering for more than 45 seconds, then I understand, and here is the key phrase, politely ask them to move. 

If I choose to go to the next home football game, I can put my diabetic supplies in a smaller case, I keep one in my apartment. I just hope that, as a fan and not understanding every single policy and procedure, that those working the games are a little bit kinder in the future allowing fans to escape from the world around them.

That being said, I do have to say that I have some positive sporting memories for this semester. I was pleased when I got out of my Monday night class on Sept. 22 and was able to go and see the last three sets of the Lady Lions volleyball team against Lamar and win. I was also able to get dinner through two free slices of pizza. Also, I had some free time after finishing my school work to see the Lady Lions soccer team score their last two points against McNeese on Sept. 16, both times carrying my bookbag. I am extremely proud to call myself a Lion when I have the time to go out and support sports teams and it is even better to see them win. 

I will say one positive note on the home football game and that deals with the UPD. I’ve noticed that some new officers now work at our university and I had the chance to meet a couple of them at the game. They were kind, held casual conversations with me and treated me like a human being rather than a criminal. So kudos to them and doing exactly a part of what I believe officers should do. The UPD treated the Southeastern students with dignity and respect and I would like to just say, “Thanks for being awesome at the home game while doing your job of protecting us from any mishaps that may have taken place.”