When Notre Dame's men's basketball team recorded a homecourt win over top-ranked San Francisco in 1977, NBC Sports named the Notre Dame student body as the MVP of the game. That's the sort of positive reputation our students have earned over the years.

Unfortunately, the actions of a small number of students in recent home basketball games have tainted that reputation. These incidents have been embarrassing for the University and have received extensive national media exposure.

There's a fine line between what's appropriate and what's not appropriate when it comes to fans supporting their team. In these instances, a few Notre Dame students have crossed the line and conducted themselves in a manner that cannot and will not be tolerated.

The athletic department and everyone associated with the men's basketball program have worked to encourage attendance and interest from students, who can play a key role in helping to create the kind of atmosphere everyone wants to see in the Joyce Center. But there are standards of behavior that must be adhered to, and the behavior of this small number of students is simply unacceptable.

As the season winds down and we hope our team qualifies for postseason play, please help us encourage the sort of behavior that we must come to expect from our students and fans. There's no reason that those in attendance at games cannot enjoy themselves, make noise and support the team without engaging in the sort of conduct that gives all of us a black eye and can even penalize our team.

We must insist on nothing less.

Rev. Mark L. Poorman

Vice President for Student Affairs

March 2, 2000

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