Emma Bullman
The damage to Clemson and surrounding areas due to Hurricane Helene was undeniably catastrophic — but does that mean the game should not have happened?
Hurricane Helene made landfall last Thursday, wreaking havoc on the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. The death toll has surpassed 160 casualties and is expected to continue to rise as search and rescue teams continue to comb through hundreds of square miles.
Clemson was hit with 40 mph winds, knocking down trees and power lines. Dozens of cars were totaled and buildings damaged, with residents and students alike displaced due to flooding. In the midst of all this, Clemson still hosted a home game against Stanford.
Many have called out the athletic department for selfishly going on with what seems to many to be a money grab. So, many raised the question: Should Clemson have postponed the game in the wake of Helene?
I don’t think there is a correct, black-and-white, yes-or-no answer. There are many nuances to the situation, both economic and social.
The potential diversion of essential resources from the community in favor of the football game is a valid argument. The amount of electricity, personnel, food and water that are involved in game days is almost immeasurable. Additionally, the arrival of thousands of out-of-towners meant longer lines for the few open food places available and dawdling in extreme traffic with already low gas supplies.
On the other hand, game day provides many local businesses with their busiest days of the year. There are seven home games this year, and each of those weekends will likely bring in millions of dollars in revenue from ticket sales, bars, restaurants and shops downtown.
Additionally, the game was a reason to unite thousands of people over a common interest. Football Saturdays in the South have been a tradition for hundreds of years, making postponing one seems like a diss to the culture of some.
I don’t find it helpful to guilt people into feeling one way or the other. Shaming people for going out and enjoying the game in the midst of a crisis will not help, and shaming people for not going out and enjoying the game in the midst of a crisis is equally as harmful.
The best solution here is to remember we are a Clemson family, a community first and foremost. Check on your neighbors, donate food if you can and, above all, remain compassionate.