To Bullis, from a Prospective Family: Stadium Songs Containing the "N Word"

[Anonymous]

We went to a football game to get a sense of the vibe, and although we liked the energy and the beautiful campus we were very put off by the warm up music with songs contains the "N" word. Maybe the players chose the music and coaches/administrators didn't know or notice, but our family did and found it a jarring note. Please pass the word to people at the school and maybe this can be changed going forward.

[Anonymous]

What songs contain the "N" word?

[Anonymous]

A recent jay-z song

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We went to a football game to get a sense of the vibe, and although we liked the energy and the beautiful campus we were very put off by the warm up music with songs contains the "N" word. Maybe the players chose the music and coaches/administrators didn't know or notice, but our family did and found it a jarring note. Please pass the word to people at the school and maybe this can be changed going forward.

Have you, you know, contacted the school?

[Anonymous]

I wonder if you get the same outrage when the same song is played a a Ballou HS football game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We went to a football game to get a sense of the vibe, and although we liked the energy and the beautiful campus we were very put off by the warm up music with songs contains the "N" word. Maybe the players chose the music and coaches/administrators didn't know or notice, but our family did and found it a jarring note. Please pass the word to people at the school and maybe this can be changed going forward.

Have you, you know, contacted the school?

Doesn't the text you bolded answer your question?

People can argue about the means if communicating the complaint but enough school admin (including admissions) seem to read this site that it probably will get noticed. Sounds like a simple fix to just adjust the playlist. People get on this site to give admissions feedback all the time (rude person in the office, didn't like the tour, open house ran out of lemonade and cups -- yes, really), so this is not that unusual.

[Anonymous]

Silly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silly.

No, I don't think it's silly. I'd be outraged.
On second hand, if you just don't care, yes, it would be silly.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it is appropriate and would have been turned off as well.

[Anonymous]

How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

[Anonymous]

The don't listen to Jay-Z.

[Anonymous]

The "vibe" at Bullis is all wrong. In addition to the use of inappropriate words in warm-up music, the PA announcer actually used a reference to Viagra in describing a play by one of the Bullis running backs. Here it is, "The Matrix must have taken his little blue pill today because he is getting busy out there tonight." While amusing at first, there is just no place for that kind of commentary at a high school game.

Even worse was the behavior of the Bullis head football coach, Pat Cilento. While up over St. Albans by more than 35 points, he had two temper tantrums over penalties called by the officials. The first related to an ineligible man downfield penalty on a touchdown pass that would have put Bullis up by over 40 points. He should have received a 15 yard penalty, at least, for his outrageous antics. No call by the refs -- amazing. Next, a Bullis player was called for a targeting penalty, using the helmet with the intent to injure an opponent. A very serious penalty that resulted in an STA player's injury and his treatment on the field. While play was stopped for the injury, Cilento went into tirade no. 2 over the call. Totally disregarding the injury caused by his own player, Cilento made a complete ass of himself and showed the kind of leadership he is providing to the Bullis student-athletes. Again, the officials failed to control the situation. The player called for targeting should have been ejected -- did not happen. Cilento's unsportsmanlike outburst and misbehavior was also unpunished. There was a sideline warning given for being on the field of play, but no flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. Amazing display of poor behavior and lack of poise by a high school coach. This was not a close game and there is simply no excuse for allowing this kind of behavior by a high school coach. The Bullis headmaster was on the sidelines and did nothing to intervene as his coach made a mockery of the situation.

Bullis has a very good team and deserves credit for "assembling" a roster of talented players. To have a coach behave in such a disgusting manner is a disservice to the players and the school. The IAC should consider sanctions against Bullis and Cilento. One hopes that the member institutions will act swiftly and sharply to keep this type of conduct at bay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How was the word used in context? The word "nigger" appears in Huck Finn, which is part of the English curriculum at many high schools, including the school my kids attend/ed (not Bullis). A word isn't "bad" per se; it's about how the word is used and interpreted.

Is the word ever used or interpreted in a "good" or positive way?

Actually, it is. Younger African-American men sometimes use it to indicate friendship/comraderie with other men, white or black. More fundamentally, though, the word can be used or interpreted in a way that is neither positive nor negative, but that informs or describes.

That's all well and fine, but as a mom of children, who happen to be white, I would not countenance their use of the term.