The IU Athletic Department has officially gone too far. More than halfway through the investigation into the NCAA allegations that Kelvin Sampson knowingly violating recruiting policies, Rick Greenspan and crew have certainly had their hands full this year. Before that, complaints about fans chanting “F*ck you, refs” sent the department into a media relations frenzy. But in an attempt to right these wrongs, the Athletics Department has overcompensated and in turn violated the First Amendment rights of fans.
Tucker was told to remove his "Bring Back Bobby" shirt, which I believe violated his First Amendment rights.
This has happened twice in the past week at Assembly Hall, but for some reason, some just don’t see it as an issue. I do.
The first occurrence took place at the Wisconsin game Feb. 13, the day the Kelvin Sampson story was unfolding. Josh Tucker, a fan from Louisville, wore a shirt to the game that said “Bring back Bobby,” referring to the fact that he wanted Bob Knight to return as coach of the Indiana Hoosiers. Security guards made him remove the shirt twice, but both times he put it right back on.
On Saturday, when ESPN GameDay visited Bloomington, Tucker set up outside Assembly Hall with the intent to give away 40 free t-shirts. But after giving away just 10, a few fans returned them and told him that Assembly Hall workers had prohibited them from bringing the shirts inside the building. A few had also been confiscated.
“I don’t understand it,” Tucker told the Herald-Times. “Something needs to be done. I don’t see how they keep getting away with taking away someone’s First Amendment rights.”
I agree completely.
The second occurrence took place Tuesday night, right before IU’s game against in-state rival Purdue. It is customary for IU fans to wear shirts that read “Puck Furdue” to games against the Boilermakers, and I’ve worn mine to three separate events in my time here at IU. But before Tuesday’s game, I was stopped in the ticket gate and told that I would not be allowed in until I turned my shirt inside out. When I protested, the gate attendee could provide no reason and no higher-up to talk to—it was simply “take off the shirt or don’t come in.”
In a way, I understand where the Athletic Department is coming from. They are trying to save face and keep up their reputation. But when did violating the inalienable rights become an acceptable way to do this?
A friend of mine told me that the shirts were banned because they were deemed “fighting words.” If this is the case, then the shirt could be seen as a means of inciting a riot, an illegal action. But why did this shirt suddenly become powerful enough to incite a riot with the 30 Purdue fans that were present, far away from my seats in the last row of the balcony?
It didn’t. And while I certainly wouldn’t consider my right to wear my “Puck Furdue” shirt something that coincides with my political voice, I certainly don’t think this instance was substantial enough to take away my right to expression.
For more about Tucker incident, check out these sites:
Integrity
IU security: No “bring back Bobby” t-shirt for you | Inside the Hall | An Indiana basketball blog
Indiana Fan Forced to Remove 'Bring Back Bobby' T-Shirt - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog
Bring Back Bobby
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