Gracious hosts?

Bulldog fans should live by the Golden Rule when hosting visiting teams’ fans

The Red & Black loves Georgia football. We love Georgia fans, Georgia players and home football games.

But we don’t love hearing reports from Georgia Southern that a Bulldog fan pushed a Georgia Southern student down a set of stairs at Sanford Stadium and earned himself a charge of battery.

According to an article Tuesday in Georgia Southern’s newspaper, The George-Anne Daily, a University student accosted a Georgia Southern student attending the football game Aug. 30 and then shoved him. The Southern student fell down a set of stairs and landed on his face, according to the police report.

We’ve all heard verbal jabs thrown around town and the stadium on gamedays. But is it necessary to physically harass people?

The score of 45-21 should have been painful enough for Georgia Southern. There’s no need to give their fans cuts and abrasions.

These traveling fans are visitors to our town. This is the Southern hospitality we boast so much about?

The Bulldog Nation should be proud to show off Athens to visitors. Sure, they cheer for another team, but do you want to end up with bruises on your face when you hit Columbia, S.C. for the game this weekend?

We didn’t think so.

Georgia fans should treat visiting fans with the same respect they hope to be treated with when traveling to another city.

And as for those jean shorts-wearing Florida fans – well, there’s a reason that game is played in neutral territory.

- Shannon Otto for the editorial board

An eye for an eye?

The Classic City offers multiple venues to raise awareness, so go take a look

The University Amnesty International chapter will host a petition signing today in support of Troy Davis’ appeal with the Supreme Court of Georgia.

His execution, scheduled for a seven-day window between noon Sept. 23 and noon Sept. 30, is debated by many to be based on vague claims of murder.

As reported on page two of today’s Red & Black, Amnesty tackled the case for its lack of evidence and seven (out of nine total) recalled witness testimonies.

Amnesty International has taken on Davis’ case in an effort to combat the alleged inefficiencies of the death penalty.

Whether you advocate Ghandi’s “an eye for an eye makes the world go blind” motto or firmly support the death penalty as due punishment, it’s important to use these campus opportunities to give your views a productive outlet.

The University holds events year-round that inspire debate and controversy, often stirring unpleasant reactions from students.

Similar to the “Justice For All” pro-life exhibit held at Tate Plaza, you may not always like what you see or hear, but it undoubtedly gets students talking – and that’s better than apathy.

If you support Davis’ appeal, use your signature to help further your cause. If not, or if you’re undecided on the issue, chat with Amnesty International representatives to hear their side of the story.

We live in a hot-topic world. If you don’t have an opinion on anything, you’re not paying attention. Luckily, Athens offers several venues not only to raise awareness, but to vent your heart out. We say, go ahead.

- Jennifer Paxton for the editorial board