Matchups for the seven games in the conference this week.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:
Nathan Cherrington
I am in my 24th year as a professor here at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy.
I have loved working and living in such a supportive and academically rigorous environment that is rich in diversity and experience. I am also a proud alum of Brigham Young University and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Over the years, I have been disappointed by the behavior of what I hope to be a small minority of fans who think it is acceptable to single out the religion of BYU’s sponsoring institution for some despicable bigotry at our football or basketball games when BYU comes to town. It is disheartening as a member of the U of A community to listen to those chants.
Interestingly, those vile actions are not directed at other universities with similar religious sponsors.
I have been pleased by the response of so many of the leaders here at the University of Arizona. Past presidents such as Robert Shelton and Bobby Robbins and individuals such as athletic directors, band directors, and Zona Zoo presidents have all spoken out each time those chants occur. These are good people who stand up against hatred with positive messages of solidarity using principles that are at the core of the mission of our university.
Our university’s purpose statement says we are “Working together to expand human potential, explore new horizons and enrich life for all.” While I am touched by the sincerity of these apologies, I have never been able to understand the origin of this misdirected hatred.
The Sunnyside Unified School District Literacy Project and the Sunnyside Foundation Food Pantry will likely receive some of their biggest donations of the year this week from the visiting fans and CougsCare.
It is not important to know that many of those donations come from the relatively large number of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who live here in Southern Arizona, or that members of the Church are faculty, staff, administrators, students, and even athletes at our university. But what is important to know is that most of these people are your neighbors who also cheer for the University of Arizona.
That loyalty is made more difficult when a small number of individuals who do not espouse the principles of our great university drown out the voices of the good people of our community with their chants of hatred directed at one religion.
As members of our beloved community, hatred directed against one is hatred against us all. I encourage every Wildcat fan to cheer for our team, and to actively encourage others around us to choose a more respectful way to participate in the game. It’s what makes our community home.
Bear Down.
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Nathan J. Cherrington PhD is the ATS Musil Family Endowed Chair and 1885 Distinguished Scholar Professor and Associate Dean for Research Director, Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona.
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Matchups for the seven games in the conference this week.
Nathan Cherrington
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