There is no denying the fact that RPI lacks school spirit, but there is also no denying some basic rules of customer satisfaction and safety. I am a Houston Field House employee, and I was involved in the attempts to “dampen the energy” of hockey fans by asking them to sit down during Freakout!

First off, I want to explain that RPI athletics does not own, nor does it control, the Field House. The Field House is a separate entity with its own staff that is rented out by “customers,” such as RPI athletics or a band. As ushers or security guards, our job is to make sure that both the customers and patrons are first safe, and second happy. What does this mean? It means asking people to wait until the whistle before they walk out and block the views of others. It means making sure kids aren’t hanging off the railings. It means asking crowds to sit down because we’ve gotten complaints from other patrons, or because they’re standing on chairs, acting like fools, and putting themselves and others at risk. With games like Freakout!, we try our best to maintain order, even if order is not very reasonable.

Some say these rules dampen their fun—why should you have to wait to watch the game? Why can’t you lean over a railing for a high-five? I’m sure I would complain if I were in your situation; I hate not being able to yell “sucks!” with the fans. But there’s no underground movement trying to control your lives. We’re just doing our job. I know that standing is not always dangerous, but it’s easier for us to monitor if you’re sitting, and some groups were getting out of control. And from my experience, I’ve never been to a professional arena where that kind of behavior was tolerated.

Elizabeth DeLouise