On the back of every nonstudent ticket to a Kansas University football game, the KU Athletic Department outlines the rules and conditions of the ticket and the department’s authority to enforce those conditions

One of the rules states, “Kansas Athletics Inc. further reserves the right to eject and prosecute any person whose conduct is deemed unbecoming (e.g. throwing objects, abusive or vulgar language).”

In light of the pleas by KU football coach Mark Mangino, student leaders and other university officials for KU students to stop yelling a vulgar, crude chant every time the Jayhawks kick off to the visiting team and the refusal of students to end the chant, it would seem KU officials have the right – and obligation – to remove the guilty students from the stadium.

By not enforcing the rule, KU officials appear to consider it OK for the students to say anything they wish even though it is wrong for nonstudents to misbehave. If an adult in the nonstudent sections, where adults and children are seated, were to scream the same chant that students yell at each kickoff, it’s very likely those sitting near the individual would seek the assistance of ushers or law enforcement officials to remove the offender.

Is this a case of university and athletic department officials accepting some version of the age-old excuse that “boys will be boys” and doing nothing to correct the situation?

Could this be a case where university officials want to appear to take a strong, righteous approach by asking students to quit the yell, but when faced with students refusing to comply with the request, administrators and officials merely back away and say there is nothing they can do?

The vast majority of loyal, supportive KU alumni and fans want the university and all of its individual schools, departments, faculty members and students to perform in a manner that reflects credit on the institution. This also is true in the intercollegiate athletics arena, where athletes and spectators are expected to behave in a manner that reflects credit on the teams, fans and the university as a whole.

If there are rules of conduct for fans – nonstudents or students – those rules should be enforced. Otherwise, there is little justification for trying to support rules for some while wearing blinders or earplugs when others pay no attention to the rules.

It’s another case of double standards, which doesn’t reflect well on the university.