I would like to respond to Jeff Kirik’s column, “Hyped contest gets little support at NIU,” (Nov. 6) and Bob Regan’s column, “Low attendance hard to understand at NIU,” (Nov. 8).

Mr. Kirik’s column was about an exciting football game that took place Nov. 4, in which NIU defeated the University of Southwestern Louisiana 23-20 on the last play of the game. Mr. Kirik then went on to say that there were more people in attendance at DeKalb High School’s second round IHSA football playoff game then at the NIU-USL game, except for the NIU Huskie Marching Band.

Mr. Kirik’s final statement, “But doesn’t it seem ironic that the thing that might halt this team’s march toward a bowl is the fact that nobody seems to care,” blamed the NIU students proactively for the football team not receiving a bid to a bowl game. Mr. Regan expands on Mr. Kirik’s thesis by constructing a checklist consisting of 12 reasons why NIU students do not attend football games.

One reason Mr. Regan gave was, “Some NIU students really don’t care to watch football.” He attacked NIU students personally. If a student does not want to go to a sporting event for whatever reason they have, merely being a student does not mean that they have an obligation to attend sporting events. Mr. Regan’s fifth reason, “Why should I?” is his most blatant. Why are we (NIU students) here? We are here to go to school, to earn a degree specifically, not necessarily to attend a football game.

If it is Mr. Kirik’s and Mr. Regan’s belief that NIU students are and/or will be the reason why the NIU football team does not or will not receive a bid to a bowl game, I suggest that they look not at the students, but at the NIU football team itself.

The students are not here at NIU to support the football program. If I, as a student, choose to attend or not attend a sporting event or any function (athletic or non-athletic) that is sponsored or sanctioned by NIU, it is my choice. It is my right as a student or individual to make decisions about what activities I attend. I wish the football team well. But, to blame me, or any NIU student, is not acceptable.

Stewart W. Penoyer

Senior

Public law