As many of you know, the annual Cortaca Jug football game between Ithaca College and SUNY Cortland will take place on Saturday, November 15, 2008, at noon at Cortland. This is the 50th anniversary of this very exciting game and rivalry.
As always, we expect a lot of fan excitement, enthusiasm, and energy surrounding the game. For a number of years now, staff and student representatives from Ithaca College and Cortland have worked hard to promote good sportsmanship on both campuses related to the game. Despite these efforts, inappropriate cheers and derogatory and tasteless t-shirts worn by students at both schools have marred the atmosphere at the game for students, faculty, staff, parents, guests, and young children.
Recently, I have become aware of “underground” t-shirts that are being advertised with demeaning phrases and/or depictions which reflect poorly on the College and also on those individuals who produce and sell them, and those who buy and wear them. In the spirit of good sportsmanship, I am asking those responsible for these efforts to discontinue the production and sale of these inappropriate t-shirts, and I ask our student body not to buy and wear them.
Let’s “keep the rivalry on the field,” support our team that has worked so hard leading up to this important contest, and act with class and dignity.
