This is a pointless discussion because of one little-talked about truth:
 
There is no way universities that want to put butts in the seats at hockey
games are going to throw people out of the arena because they use
four-letter words.
 
Having went to Engelstad Arena for many years now, I've become familiar with
what activities will get you kicked out and what activities will get you
nothing more than a few dirty looks.  I have never seen anyone get kicked
out for using bad language.  The only time that I have seen people get
kicked out is for throwing objects onto the ice, writing stuff on the
plexiglass with a magic marker, getting too harsh with visiting players in
the penalty box, and banging on the glass.  But never for using bad
language.
 
This isn't about who has the right to do what and where.  This is about how
far universities would realistically go to govern the behavior of their fans
(student and nonstudent alike).  Here is where Ben F.'s cure for every
problem (the glorious free market) comes into play.  If schools imposed
strict behavioral standards on it's fans and punished those who would dare
break them, it would drive fans away from the arena.  Empty arenas mean lost
revenues and athletic budgets in the red.  Let's say for example that UND
established a rule that outlawed the use of the phrase "Gophers Suck!!!"
during the annual UND-Minnesota series.  Let's also suppose that they
staffed the arena with more rent-a-cops to enforce this rule.  You would see
a lot of people refuse to go to games because someone was getting in their
face and telling them to "shut up or else".  This would lead to a bad
reputation for the athletic department, declining ticket sales and a less
than favorable bottom line.  So there is no way in this or any other
lifetime any school is going to start throwing out people for using bad
language.
 
I personally don't use foul language at sporting events or any other time
and I wish others wouldn't, but it's a sad part of American sports (has been
for years) and athletic departments have to tolerate it to a certain extent
in order to protect their bottom lines.  Just my 2 cents.
 
Brian
(GO SIOUX!!!)
 
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