Xavier students have spoken -- and, apparently, they've won. Xavier University has canceled its planned “reflection sessions” for students the university said behaved inappropriately during the brawl-marred Dec. 10 Xavier-Cincinnati basketball game.
The university said the decision was made based on feedback it received from students after announcing the sessions on Thursday. The condition applied to the reflection sessions was that students had to attend one of three planned sessions or they would be disqualified from receiving student tickets for the rest of the season.
Instead, the university is inviting students to an optional forum next Tuesday night to be attended by university leaders, including head basketball coach Chris Mack. All students are welcome to attend basketball games the rest of the season.
“This approach will invite the entire undergraduate student community to discuss our strong Xavier spirit, show support by the students for the men’s basketball team and our Xavier values, as well as focus on making the student game experience the best it can be,” said a letter sent to students Friday afternoon signed by Scott Chadwick, provost and chief academic officer, and student government president Ryan Alleman.
Xavier students are still on winter break. Most will return to campus this weekend, and the news that those who wanted to continue to attend basketball games would have to attend an hour-long reflection session was met with opposition and befuddlement.
“We didn’t really think (the reflection sessions) were going to happen,” Xavier junior Cory Bastian said. “It seemed a little ridiculous. I think we’re all ready to move on. Just through Twitter and text messages with my friends we didn’t think the reflection sessions were something that was going to help.”
Said Xavier junior Evan Manship: “I think everyone was appalled. People instantly got on Twitter and no one was happy. We’re ready to move on from the fight.”
Bastian, a junior from Delphos, Ohio, and Manship, a junior from Indianapolis, are among the students who dress as Popes for select home games. The group uses a Twitter account, @TheXavierPopes, to communicate with students and spark ideas for cheers.
One of the tweets from @TheXavierPopes Friday included this at the end: #ZipEmUp. Part of the fallout from the brawl were postgame comments made by Xavier players Tu Holloway and Mark Lyons and Holloway’s on-court references to putting Cincinnati’s players in body bags.
Manship said the student section adopted the “zip ‘em up” slogan from the team and has T-shirts with the slogan.
“I see why the university would frown upon it because it came to (the forefront) at a bad time,” he said. “As far as the saying goes, we don’t really mean kill people. It’s something that, to us, means on to the next game.”
Bastian said there were “very short chants” in the student section immediately after the fight that he considered unacceptable but they ended quickly.
“We acted no different than 99 percent of student sections in America would have acted that day,” Bastian said.
Said Manship: “I don’t think the student section had a direct role in the way (the fight) escalated. As far as creating a hostile environment and yelling at the Cincinnati players, that’s absolutely what we do and what we want Cintas Center to be known for, as a place that’s really hard on opposing teams.
“I’m sure things were said that maybe were regrettable, but nothing specific stands out to me. I would say it was typical Xavier-UC behavior and intensity.”
Friday’s letter also said: “While we come together to reflect and discern, you will also have the opportunity to discuss your thoughts and reactions to what happened at the end of the Crosstown Shootout. We will discuss with you how we are all representatives of Xavier, how fan behavior affects the game atmosphere and what we will do to avoid any similar situations in the future. We will also discuss how we can appropriately maintain the energy and intensity of our home court advantage. We remain proud of our Xavier students and we look forward to working together, keeping Xavier and the Xavier spirit thriving and well.”
