Attention Dawg Pound members:you are helping to corrupt the minds of southern Illinois’ youth.

During the opening minutes of Saturday’s game against Evansville, Matt Shaw was awarded a technical foul for slapping the backboard following a dunk. The Dawg Pound went crazy and let the referee know exactly how they felt.

Sitting next to me in the upper bowl were ten children from Marion, all around the age of 12. They laughed, giggled and exhibited a true fear of female coodies.

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They jumped to their feet as the slow murmur of the infamous “bull ****” cheer grew into an unfriendly, bleacher-shaking chant.

A couple of children started screaming as loud as humanly possible, while the rest snickered at the dirty word. For a few, this was a chance to be cool in front of the college crowd. All they had to do was curse.

Did it really matter that Shaw got a technical? Nope. The Salukis went on to win by 24 points.

These chants aren’t new for Saluki fans that venture into the SIU Arena. Mothers and fathers were probably diving for their children’s ears in an ill-fated attempt at protecting innocence.

This has got to stop.

True, the children in the section right behind the Dawg Pound may hear worse at home. Either way, remember that we are supposed to be the creative, intelligent college crowd that doesn’t need to slum down to such sophomoric cheers.

When TV cameras and opposing fans roll in, we’re representing SIU just as much as the players on the court. It looks plain stupid and ridiculous when a crowd goes into these chants.

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Oh you say, we were merely chanting ‘Push It’. Puh-lease.

With all the offensive things in the world, questions of cartoon character’s sexual orientations and violent material on television and in video games, these children already have their plates full.

Remember when you were little? The worst things on TV were the Ninja Turtles. Video game violence constituted simulated duck hunting and jumping on pixilated monster heads.

Children today deal with overly violent TV and games that have become so risqu that our governor is attempting to take them out of children’s hands until they turn 18.

The Dawg Pound might not be as bad as some of the ACC student sections where obscenities and rude suggestions about opposing player’s sexual histories – North Carolina State’s student section recently drew some fire for chanting STD when Rashad McCants stepped to the free throw line – run amuck.

Saluki fans should never aspire to dip this low.

What to do in a similar situation when the referee’s judgment is questionable, you ask? How about referring to the ref’s less than 20/20 vision. Or better yet, come up with something even more creative.

If the students in charge of the Dawg Pound want to make a difference, they’ll find new ways to let the ref have it. It’s a challenge, but if you want to get to the officials, make them laugh.

Do it for the children in the upper bowl that someday will be standing where you stand. We don’t want it to turn into an arena where ACC-like chants scare off future Salukis.