A Hilliard Davidson High School senior, Kyle Garchar, was suspended for orchestrating a prank during a football game where rival fans were tricked into holding up signs that spelled "We Suck." Garchar dedicated approximately 20 hours over three days to plan this prank, inspired by a similar incident at Yale in 2004. The prank, which was recorded and shared on YouTube, has sparked debate regarding the appropriateness of the punishment, with some arguing that a lighter consequence would be more fitting for what they consider a harmless joke.
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For those of us who have no interest whatsoever in the game being played on the field, the goofiness in the stands is the only thing interesting about showing up for a game. And it's not like anyone was hurt or could have been...just a good joke and some red faces for falling for the trick (and since the whole school had to fall for it for it to work, it's not like the kids who fell for it will be picked out of the crowd and hassled for it). If they wanted to teach the kids good sportsmanship, then they would not have been punished for a harmless prank, but rather would have recognized it as being all part of the fun and told the rival school to just laugh it off. If they want to continue to promote a sport that inspires competition, then don't punish kids when they have fun being competitive.