ORGANIZED CHEERING

The CRIMSON has asked a number of men prominent in Harvard athletics to give their opinions concerning the advisability and value of organized cheering both in regard to its effect on the teams and upon the University as a whole. The opinions follows:

Professor H. S. White '73.

In reply to your request for an expression of opinion on the subject of applause at games, let me say that my answer to the question whether to cheer or not to cheer would be in the affirmative. The difficulty in the matter seems to me to be not so much with reference to the existence of applause, as to the kind of applause and its application. The elaborate system of cheering which is now carried to its logical conclusion by the complete division of the rival camps of spectators into consecutive or continuous vocal bands, is only one illustration of the national tendency to do nothing by halves, which has resulted in many highly organized enterprises in business, politics and education. This ingenious mechanism of special cheering-sections, including elaborate rehearsals of songs and cries, appeals to the spectacular instinct in us and contributes to the unthinking enjoyment of the general audience. The objectionable features are a lack of spontaneity, the perfunctory punctuation of proceedings on the field by mechanical manifestations of approval or disapproval, and the risk that occasionally such well-meaning hordes of heelers, with their hectic cheers exceeding all bounds of legitimate applause, may drift into intentional preparations to secure victory by vociferation,--a poor way to lose the contest, to be sure, but a worse way to win it. This is the real mischief of the business,--not in the act itself, but in the exaggeration and ill-directed utilization. Such occurrences as the explosive demonstrations by yachts aligned upon the last mile of boat races, demonstrations strictly forbidden by the course-regulations, and which render any communications in the boats themselves impossible; or the noisy attempts of crowds to disconcert a player who is essaying a place kick, or to rattle a pitcher at a critical moment, or of players themselves, who imitate the tactics of cheap professional teams with hysterical cacklings on and off the diamond,--these are sad signs of a decadent sportsmanship. To be sure, the true athlete will keep his eye on the ball rather than on the bleachers, and his thoughts on the game rather than on the outside gamesters; taking his cue from the captain instead of the crowd; but even the steadiest players are not always fire proof.

Our athletic contests have sometimes been called "war." Possibly they may partake of the nature of war, but we should not forget that after all it is a mimic war, and that the players themselves are perhaps more conscious of this difference than the spectators. Too much is the athlete regarded as a fighter in a great cause, whose efforts must be supported both on and off the field in every possible way. A cloud of witnesses around the grounds, holding his every action in full survey, seems to be regarded as a legitimate division of the army, which has its own necessary function to perform and the athlete in the arena is applauded to the fatal end, like Tennyson's warrior:

"Whose eyes are dim with glorious tears,

When soiled with noble dust he hears

His country's war song thrill his ears;

Then dying with a mortal stroke

What time the foreman's line is broke,

And all the war is rolled in smoke!"

One great objection to our athletics at the present time is this demoralization of the non-athletic masses, who often treat the stranger within our gates not only as a stranger, but, in the good old classical sense, as an enemy too.

Is it not the business of those who have these matters in charge,--the cheerers as well as the cheered,--to see that intercollegiate contests shall not become detrimental to both participants and spectators? Without abating one jot of spirited emulation in testing one another's mettle, may we not pursue these contests in a spirit of fair dealing and mutual concession, without the loss of chivalrous temper, and with the cultivation of cordial relations and of a common esprit de corps?

Not suppression of applause is my conclusion, then, nor even repression; but only a sensible control and direction of it. A control which may make it the vehicle of a cordial expression of generous appreciation of every neat performance, whether by the friends we love or by the foes we ought to cherish. Let all allowances be made for excusable and inoffensive partisanship,--barring the unmelodious horn of cracked tin,--but in our partisan enthusiasm let us not overstep the boundaries of courtesy. Even among the ancient Hebrews, whose code demanded eye for eye and tooth for tooth, the stranger who was in their camp, within their gates, was to be left unvexed and unoppressed.

Dr. E. H. Nichols '86.

No one who has ever participated in any public athletic contest will deny that spontaneous applause for a good performance is an encouraging and inspiring evidence of sympathy. The most efficient cheer in the world is the sudden hush followed by the outburst which follows a really good play. To enable a large crowd to express its sympathy a certain amount of organization may be necessary, but in my opinion the good effect of organized cheering is greatly exaggerated. If there is to be organized cheering there are one or two essentials. In the first place there must be dash, enthusiasm, and speed to the cheer. Nothing is more depressing than a slow drawling cheer from one's own adherents, especially if the opponents cheer with confidence and enthusiasm. In the second place, continuous cheering a team that is believed to be beaten is almost always detrimental. The players always realize more than the spectators the task that is before them, and continual cheering of a nearly beaten team is quite likely to make the players feel that the spectators are losing confidence, and that feeling is very likely to be transmitted to the players.

The bad effects of too much organized cheering are obvious. During recent years both in Cambridge and away the home team has repeatedly been entirely rattled by the well meant and strenuous endeavors of its own partisans. The bad effect is due to two factors: the first, to the feeling of the players that their partisans are over anxious and dubious of the ability of the players to do what is expected of them; and second, to the incessant noise, which has much the same confusing effect as a boiler shop, or a train in a tunnel, so that at the time when a man should be devoting all of his attention to the task before him, he may be prevented from concentrating his mind. The popular idea that a man may be made timid by the shouts of opponents I believe to be much overrated.

Athletic supremacy is supposed to be decided by the prowess of the chosen teams. A deliberate attempt to win games by making so much noise as to confuse the players seems to me discreditable, and organized cheering of that sort should be suppressed.

E. N. Wrightington '97.

I have your favor of the 23rd inst. asking for an expression of opinion on the effect and purpose of organized cheering in connection with university teams.

I think that as an expression of the support of the college, cheering has a decidedly beneficial effect upon the players. Cheering itself is not noticed perhaps, so very much in a game, but under present conditions the lack of it, on the part of either team's supporters, would be decidedly depressing to that team. In fact it would be a distinct handicap to a Harvard team to abandon cheering, unless the opposing team could also be convinced to give it up. Moreover, it does not seem to me to matter much, if there is some artificiality in the present method of cheering. After all, the spirit is there and the manner of expression is of slight importance. The meetings in the Union may seem to be a studied effort to awaken enthusiasm, but if they serve the purpose only of bringing the students together they are accomplishing something. I certainly hope to see them continued.

J. W. Farley '99.

There must necessarily be two points of view from which the value of organized cheering at public games is to be judged, from the players' point of view and from that of the audience. As to the point of view of the audience it is, perhaps, not worth while to offer an opinion. To them the organized cheering is inspiring to hear but often a nuisance when they feel obliged to participate. Probably, on the whole, however, for the spectators the organized cheering has a distinct element of enjoyment and greatly stimulates their enthusiasm.

But from the players' and coaches' point of view I have never much believed in the value of organized cheering. In the first place, any player knows that he never hears any cheering except when it interferes with his hearing something else that he wants to hear. Whether or not it has a subconscious inspiring effect is perhaps difficult to say, but I do not think that any team with the proper spirit and properly trained would ever care as to how the spectators were treating them while they were on the field. Before the contest begins and during the time of preparation it is perhaps another question. Then any manifestation of enthusiasm can be appreciated and will help to inspire the men. As to the regular cheering at the actual final contest I am of the opinion it is of little value; because in the first place, practically it is not heard and in the second because the enthusiasm of the contest should be so great as to make any additional stimulation unimportant.

C. B. Marshall '04.

There is no doubt in my mind about the benents of cheering to an athletic team, no matter in what branch or sport it may be. There always come times in college competition of all sorts when a team or an individual does more than it was believed possible; and, although this may be said to have been due to any number of causes, the real one was that the individual or the members of the team had, for perhaps but an instant, had one ear open to the grandstand and had received the outside encouragement.

I have yet to hear a college cheer more impressive or more inspiring than a well organized Harvard cheer, and it merely requires co-operation among the undergraduates and the spirit that you can cheer louder than the man next to you, to make it go.

J. A. Burgess '04.

Organized cheering serves several purposes. At Harvard cheers are given to welcome an opposing team, to applaud a good play, and to encourage our own team, but never to rattle an opposing pitcher or to drown out the signals of an opposing quarterback. These first three uses of cheering are perfectly proper, but when cheering is used for no other purpose than to disconcert an opposing team, the game, whatever it may be, ceases to be a test of skill of the two teams, and becomes a general contest, in which cheering plays much too important a part. While Harvard cheers are not used to disconcert other teams, it is hard to see sometimes how they could help but disconcert our own team, for no welcome falls flatter than a fainthearted cheer, and applause and encouragement do not amount to much when only twenty or thirty respond out of several hundred. If we are to have cheering (at all) at our games let it be given a fair test by having certain sections of seats reserved for undergraduates, and undergraduates, only.

R. H. Oveson '05.

In determining the value of organized cheering at games we ought to consider:

1. Its value to the team.

2. Its effect upon the rest of the University.

1. The very fact that the cheering is organized, has a most salutary effect upon the team about to take part in a great contest. The fact that classmates and collegemates are willing to spend time and energy in rehearsing cheers and songs, fills each member of the team with an indomitable spirit, inspired by the feeling that the University is backing him with its interest, its confidence, and its enthusiasm. When the game begins, the player, if he is playing as he should, is entirely unconscious of even the loudest cheers, except at intervals, perhaps, as between the halves or between the innings. Therefore the principal value of the cheering lies in the fact that the team knows beforehand that the support of cheers and songs are forthcoming, and coming just at the right time, or, in short, the value to the team of the cheering lies in the fact that it is organized cheering.

2. The effect upon the University of organized cheering is of even greater moment than its effect upon the team. From the familiar natural law of atrophy, we know that enthusiasm unexpressed, soon ceases to exist. On the other hand, rational and intelligent expression of deep feelings of enthusiasm stimulates our loyalty to class and to college. It fosters that intangible something, known as college spirit,--an element of student life which is absolutely essential to the well being of the University