This past weekend, the Department of Athletics promoted a student tailgate they were putting on for the Women’s and Men’s basketball doubleheader. The tailgate was sponsored and catered by Canes, Mr. Gatti’s and Buffalo Wild Wings.

However, many students grabbed food and left before the Women’s game had even begun.

This is just the latest and probably not the last, ham-fisted attempt by the athletics department to promote students attendance at ACU athletics.

Frankly, the athletics department, on no fault of their own, has been reduced to practically begging students to support student athletes.

Play a little less Fortnite, make one less trip across town to Tea2Go and go attend an ACU athletics event. For example, on March 23-24 ACU is hosting a track and field invitational. I understand if your reason for not going to a tennis match or baseball game is because you don’t understand how those sports work, but track and field is easy. It’s about who can run the fastest, jump the highest and throw the furthest.

Let’s be honest, there’s nothing to do in Abilene. You’re already hanging out with friends on campus or at a restaurant, why not do that at a baseball or basketball game?

Oh and I almost forgot. Those athletes competing? Some of them are most likely your classmates or even fellow group project members. It’s not abstract athletes you’ve never heard of, it’s people engaged in the same community you are.

Athletics can’t do anymore to appeal to us. It’s time for the student body to step up.