Letters to the Editor 2/05/07

'Innovative' marketing campaign sparks overreaction

Am I the only person who feels that City Hall and the State House are overreacting to the bomb "hoax" last week? While I applaud the efforts and response of the Boston Police Department, I think the post-scare reaction from the media and Beacon Hill is both ridiculous and unnecessary. The cries for compensation and "justice" from city officials seems like political arm-flexing after the embarrassing realization that they shut half the city down because someone found a cartoon figure on what amounts to a child's Lite-Brite toy at a T stop.

Since when did innovative or alternative marketing campaigns such as this one become a crime? And where should they have put their colorful "threats" - somewhere isolated and obscure where no public traffic will ever see their ad? I don't buy the "post-9/11 world" arguments, either. These ads were in numerous major cities for weeks and hadn't sparked a mass hysteria like the one experienced here.

If we're ever going to return to our pre-9/11 normalcy, we're going to have to quit hanging innocent cartoon watchers out to dry and accept the fact that false alarms happen. Heaven forbid I ever leave my Etch-a-Sketch on a park bench ....

Jonathan Moreland A&S '07

If you think this is harsh, it's meant to be: I'm calling you out

If you think this is harsh, it's meant to be. Recently, ESPN did an analysis of the most successful college programs in the "marquee" sports of men's basketball and football over the past five years. There at number six in the country was Boston College. That's amazing. Gene DeFilippo, Tom O'Brien, and Al Skinner have all done tremendous jobs making BC basketball and football more successful than ever, both in the Big East and upon entering the ultra-competitive Atlantic Coast Conference. Who would have expected that the basketball team would come within two points of defeating Duke for the ACC championship? OK, Superfans (and I use that word loosely), here's my gripe.

Where are you? I don't see you, and I can't hear you. Have you watched an ACC game on TV from one of those other schools? Do you not see how it's supposed to be? It's not like your teams are bottom feeders. They actually win consistently, and you still can't be bothered to show up on a consistent basis. And when you do, it's only for the "big" games. Sure, you're there for Duke in basketball or Notre Dame in football. But, what about those other games against "less exciting" opponents? Do you think the Cameron Crazies take the night off when Duke plays Davidson? No, they are there, and just as loud. I've seen Alumni Stadium and Conte Forum half-empty and quiet too many times to count. If they're lucky, maybe once or twice during their season BC players get to experience a truly great atmosphere.

How do you think it feels for a BC player to go into all those other gyms and stadiums that are jammed full (two hours before game time) of loud, truly supportive students. Then they take to the court or field at BC many times to a smattering of applause and empty seats. I've been a season ticket holder for years, and I've seen it over and over. I've seen Superfans actually sit down en masse during time outs. Are you kidding me? Yeah, you must be really tired. And how lame is it when your cheerleaders trot out those "We Are"/"BC" signs and half of you just stare silently into space? Come on! Your teams are the sixth most successful in the country, and you act like you couldn't care less. If you think this is harsh, it's meant to be. I'm calling you out.

Daron Manoogian

BC '98