Cameron Indoor Stadium is an athletic venue, not a political one--period.
During the Jan. 29 men's basketball game against Florida State, a group of students led by Duke Students for (George W.) Bush sat together in the stands, many wearing blue T-shirts with large "Ws" printed on them.
While the actions of the students were not illegal--political speech being protected by the First Amendment--the implicit politicization of a sporting event introduced an element of divisiveness into the crowd, subjecting a majority of fans to an unwelcome invasion of partisan politics into an atmosphere of unity and fun.
In approaching the issues raised by the "W" shirts, it is essential to understand the expectations held by the average fan upon entering Cameron Indoor Stadium for a game. First and foremost, they are there to witness and cheer for their team--their basketball team, not their political team. Any sort of division in the crowd naturally arises from athletic competition. You root for one team and against the other, approve of the team and not the referees, cheer louder than the other squad's fans. Fans can set aside the differences that pervade their lives outside of Cameron, and unite around their common cause--the Blue Devils. Fans have a reasonable right to expect that the only partisan campaigning during the game will be done on behalf of the teams on the court.
Duke Students for Bush violated this implicit contract by deliberately using the game as a forum for political expression. In the midst of a heated election cycle, a sporting event is one of a handful of places where one can expect to remain isolated from politics for a short while. By wearing politically-motivated shirts and voicing support for their candidate, the students disrupted the athletic spirit of the game, and exploited the teams on the court to bolster their agenda.
There are several more appropriate campus venues available to individuals wishing to share their political views. Quads, classrooms, the Bryan Center Walkway and countless other spots are perfect for such uses.
It is important to note that the actions of Duke Students for Bush would be equally as deplorable had they been conducted on behalf of a Democratic or third party candidate. Duke basketball games are simply not appropriate situations for political campaigning.
Fans do not pay to learn about political platforms, they pay to see the Blue Devils put the ball in the hoop.
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